›› 2011, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (10): 1165-1171.doi:

• REVIEW ARTICLES • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Progress in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cells in insects

 TAN  Juan, ZHOU  Qi-Ming, CUI  Hong-Juan   

  • Received:2011-05-09 Revised:2011-08-22 Online:2011-10-20 Published:2011-10-20
  • Contact: CUI Hong-Juan E-mail:hongjuan.cui@gmail.com
  • About author:libytan163com@163.com

Abstract: Insect hemocytes play important roles in the metabolism, metamorphosis and immunity, which are closely related events of growth and development. Because of lack of the adaptive immunity,  immunity functions that the insect hemocytes execute play important roles in combating exogenous pathogens. This review summaries the recent progress in the types of insect hemocytes, hematopoietic organs, haematopoietic stem cells and the regulating factors in insect haematopoiesis. There are three types of hemocytes in Drosophila, while most hemocytes of Lepidoptera and other insect species, can be classified into five types, depending on staining patterns. Insect hemocytes are dispersed in the circulating hemolymph and hematopoietic organs, where the hemocytes can replicate. The two systems are important for the characterization and localization of the hematopoietic stem cells in insects. Blood progenitors which arise from the Drosophila embryonic mesoderm differentiate into various hemocytes, and these processes are controlled by hematopoiesis regulating factors.

Key words: Insect, hemocyte, hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell, regulating factors