TY - JOUR
T1 - Drosophila FGFR/Htl signaling shapes embryonic glia to phagocytose apoptotic neurons
AU - Ayoub, Malak
AU - David, Li mor
AU - Shklyar, Boris
AU - Hakim-Mishnaevski, Ketty
AU - Kurant, Estee
N1 - Funding Information: We are grateful to M. Freeman, E. Schejter, T. Kojima, the Bloomington Stock Center, VDRC and the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank for fly strains and antibodies. We also thank Kurant laboratory members for meaningful discussions. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Israel Science Foundation (grant 274/21). Funding Information: We are grateful to M. Freeman, E. Schejter, T. Kojima, the Bloomington Stock Center, VDRC and the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank for fly strains and antibodies. We also thank Kurant laboratory members for meaningful discussions. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Israel Science Foundation (grant 274/21). Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/3/10
Y1 - 2023/3/10
N2 - Glial phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons is crucial for development and proper function of the central nervous system. Relying on transmembrane receptors located on their protrusions, phagocytic glia recognize and engulf apoptotic debris. Like vertebrate microglia, Drosophila phagocytic glial cells form an elaborate network in the developing brain to reach and remove apoptotic neurons. However, the mechanisms controlling creation of the branched morphology of these glial cells critical for their phagocytic ability remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that during early embryogenesis, the Drosophila fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) Heartless (Htl) and its ligand Pyramus are essential in glial cells for the formation of glial extensions, the presence of which strongly affects glial phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons during later stages of embryonic development. Reduction in Htl pathway activity results in shorter lengths and lower complexity of glial branches, thereby disrupting the glial network. Our work thus illuminates the important role Htl signaling plays in glial subcellular morphogenesis and in establishing glial phagocytic ability.
AB - Glial phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons is crucial for development and proper function of the central nervous system. Relying on transmembrane receptors located on their protrusions, phagocytic glia recognize and engulf apoptotic debris. Like vertebrate microglia, Drosophila phagocytic glial cells form an elaborate network in the developing brain to reach and remove apoptotic neurons. However, the mechanisms controlling creation of the branched morphology of these glial cells critical for their phagocytic ability remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that during early embryogenesis, the Drosophila fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) Heartless (Htl) and its ligand Pyramus are essential in glial cells for the formation of glial extensions, the presence of which strongly affects glial phagocytosis of apoptotic neurons during later stages of embryonic development. Reduction in Htl pathway activity results in shorter lengths and lower complexity of glial branches, thereby disrupting the glial network. Our work thus illuminates the important role Htl signaling plays in glial subcellular morphogenesis and in establishing glial phagocytic ability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149917641&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01382-5
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01382-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 36898998
SN - 2058-7716
VL - 9
SP - 90
JO - Cell Death Discovery
JF - Cell Death Discovery
IS - 1
M1 - 90
ER -
