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Review
. 2022 Jun 9:13:906294.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.906294. eCollection 2022.

Integrins in the Immunity of Insects: A Review

Saima Kausar  1 , Muhammad Nadeem Abbas  1 , Isma Gul  1 , Yu Liu  2 , Bo-Ping Tang  3 , Iram Maqsood  4 , Qiu-Ning Liu  3   5 , Li-Shang Dai  2
Affiliations
Review

Integrins in the Immunity of Insects: A Review

Saima Kausar et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Integrins are a large group of cell-surface proteins that are classified as transmembrane proteins. Integrins are classified into different types based on sequence variations, leading to structural and functional diversity. They are broadly distributed in animals and have a wide range of biological functions such as cell-to-cell communication, intracellular cytoskeleton organization, cellular signaling, immune responses, etc. Integrins are among the most abundant cell surface proteins in insects, exhibiting their indispensability in insect physiology. Because of their critical biological involvement in physiological processes, they appear to be a novel target for designing effective pest control strategies. In the current literature review, we first discuss the discovery and expression responses of integrins against various types of pathogens. Secondly, we examine the specific biological roles of integrins in controlling microbial pathogens, such as phagocytosis, encapsulation, nodulation, immune signaling, and so on. Finally, we describe the possible uses of integrins to control agricultural insect pests.

Keywords: hemocytes; innate immunity; insects; integrins; target for pest control.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An overview is representing different physiological processes controlled by integrins in insects.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The involvement of integrins in the regulation of nodulation, melanization, encapsulation, and wound healing via focal adhesion kinase and its associated signaling.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The biological role of integrins in the modulation of Toll and IMD signaling.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Integrins as a target for insect pest control, e.g., integrin βSe1 is vital for the development, cellular immune responses, and the survival of insects. A novel class of insecticidal compounds can be generated by using one more of the potential strategies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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