We have shown in our previous reseach that insect immune cells may play a plethora of „non-canonical“ roles. Not only they guard an individual against pathogens and foreign objects, but they actively engage in regulation of metabolism during infection via secretion of signaling factors, which adjust the metabolism of other organs. In addition, they contribute to recyclation of the organic matter from apoptotic cells and their conversion into nutrients, which may be exploited by maturing tissues. Hence, we became interested in the range of diverse roles immune cells may perform in an organism.

We have observed that immune cells interact with adipose tissue during various stress conditions in adult fruit flies. These conditions have one thing in common – enhanced lipolysis. Therefore, we aim to reveal the signals which attract the immune cells to the fat body and what is the role of infiltrating macrophages upon stress conditions.