Ingested human insulin inhibits the mosquito NF-κB-dependent immune response to Plasmodium falciparum

Infect Immun. 2012 Jun;80(6):2141-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00024-12. Epub 2012 Apr 2.

Abstract

We showed previously that ingested human insulin activates the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway in Anopheles stephensi and increases the susceptibility of these mosquitoes to Plasmodium falciparum. In other organisms, insulin can alter immune responsiveness through regulation of NF-κB transcription factors, critical elements for innate immunity that are also central to mosquito immunity. We show here that insulin signaling decreased expression of NF-κB-regulated immune genes in mosquito cells stimulated with either bacterial or malarial soluble products. Further, human insulin suppressed mosquito immunity through sustained phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation, since inhibition of this pathway led to decreased parasite development in the mosquito. Together, these data demonstrate that activation of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway by ingested human insulin can alter NF-κB-dependent immunity, and ultimately the susceptibility, of mosquitoes to P. falciparum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / drug effects*
  • Anopheles / immunology*
  • Anopheles / parasitology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Insulin / pharmacology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases