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Review
. 2024 Jun 10:15:1397521.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1397521. eCollection 2024.

Epigenetic remodeling in insect immune memory

Krishnendu Mukherjee  1 , Ulrich Dobrindt  1
Affiliations
Review

Epigenetic remodeling in insect immune memory

Krishnendu Mukherjee et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

The innate immune system of insects can respond more swiftly and efficiently to pathogens based on previous experience of encountering antigens. The understanding of molecular mechanisms governing immune priming, a form of immune memory in insects, including its transgenerational inheritance, remains elusive. It is still unclear if the enhanced expression of immune genes observed in primed insects can persist and be regulated through changes in chromatin structure via epigenetic modifications of DNA or histones, mirroring observations in mammals. Increasing experimental evidence suggests that epigenetic changes at the level of DNA/RNA methylation and histone acetylation can modulate the activation of insects' immune responses to pathogen exposure. Moreover, transgenerational inheritance of certain epigenetic modifications in model insect hosts can influence the transmission of pre-programmed immune responses to the offspring, leading to the development of evolved resistance. Epigenetic research in model insect hosts is on the brink of significant progress in the mechanistic understanding of chromatin remodeling within innate immunity, particularly the direct relationships between immunological priming and epigenetic alterations. In this review, we discuss the latest discoveries concerning the involvement of DNA methylation and histone acetylation in shaping the development, maintenance, and inheritance of immune memory in insects, culminating in the evolution of resistance against pathogens.

Keywords: DNA methylation; epigenetics; histone acetylation; immune memory; immune priming; insect resistance.

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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. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Involvement of DNA/RNA methylation in the regulation of immune priming in insects. Immune priming against pathogens in the parental generation (F0) leads to decreased RNA methylation, while parental transmission of immune priming to their offspring (intergenerational or F1) results in reduced DNA methylation and increased Dnmt2 expression, with subsequent generations (Fn) showing elevated DNA methylation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Involvement of histone acetylation in the regulation of immune priming in insects. Immune priming against pathogens in the parental generation (F0) leads to heightened HAT activity. Parental transmission of immune priming against pathogens to their offspring (intergenerational or F1) reduced HDACs. The transmission of immune priming to subsequent generations (Fn) results in elevated H3 acetylation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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