New research into insect fat bodies shows that they respond to wounding by migrating to the site of the wound:

* Pupal fat body cells are not immotile, as previously presumed, but actively migrate to wounds using an unusual adhesion-independent, actomyosin-driven, peristaltic mode of motility. 

* Using live imaging of pupal epithelial wounds we show for the first time that pupal fat body cells (FBCs) are motile cells that actively migrate to wounds.

* Once at the wound, fat body cells collaborate with hemocytes to clear the wound of cell debris; they also tightly seal the epithelial wound gap and locally release antimicrobial peptides to fight wound infection. 

* Thus, fat body cells are motile cells, enabling them to migrate to wounds to undertake several local functions needed to drive wound repair and prevent infections.

* Our studies in Drosophila pupae flag up novel behaviors and functions for FBCs in Drosophila and open up genetic opportunities to further our understanding of the important roles played by adipocytes in repair and regeneration.

Franz, Anna, Will Wood, and Paul Martin. "Fat body cells are motile and actively migrate to wounds to drive repair and prevent infection." Developmental cell 44.4 (2018): 460-470.

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