Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
6th International Eurasian Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology (EurasianSciEnTech 2025), Ankara, Türkiye, 25 - 27 Haziran 2025, ss.175, (Özet Bildiri)
Insect haemocytes are multifunctional cellular components that play essential roles not only in classical
immune responses – such as phagocytosis, encapsulation, nodule formation, and melanisation- but also in
non-immune physiological processes including tissue repair, hypoxia adaptation, vitellogenin and ferritin
transport, apoptotic cell clearance, and haematopoietic niche formation. The number and types of
haemocytes vary depending on insect species, developmental stage, and physiological conditions. Major
haemocyte types are prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherule cells, and oenocytoids. These
haemocytes collectively regulate both humoral and cellular immune pathways through the coordination of
antimicrobial peptide synthesis, coagulation, reactive oxygen species production, and immune signalling.
Among these, granulocytes have received increasing attention for their versatile roles in immunity. As
spherical, granule-rich cells, granulocytes are typically the first to encounter pathogens and initiate immune
responses by exocytosing granules that activate other haemocytes, particularly plasmatocytes, and facilitate
capsule or nodule formation via opsonin-like factors. Resembling vertebrate macrophages, granulocytes
exhibit high phagocytic capacity, elevated lysosomal activity, and strong expression of immune-related
genes. Recent findings also suggest that granulocytes may contribute to long-term immune protection in
insects, mimicking adaptive-like memory responses. The aim of this review is to give an in-depth primer
on insect haemocyte functions, with a special focus on the emerging immunological significance of
granulocytes. Taken together, this review highlights the immunological versatility of insect haemocytes
and proposes new perspectives for investigating innate immune memory in invertebrates.