Unveiling the roles of autophagy in innate and adaptive immunity.
Cells digest portions of their interiors in a process known as autophagy to recycle nutrients, remodel and dispose of unwanted cytoplasmic constituents. This ancient pathway, conserved from yeast to humans, is now emerging as a central player in the immunological control of bacterial, parasitic and viral infections. The process of autophagy may degrade intracellular pathogens, deliver endogenous antigens to MHC-class-II-loading compartments, direct viral nucleic acids to Toll-like receptors and regulate T-cell homeostasis. This Review describes the mechanisms of autophagy and highlights recent advances relevant to the role of autophagy in innate and adaptive immunity.
Levine
Beth
B
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA. beth.levine@utsouthwestern.edu
Deretic
Vojo
V
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001343:Autophagy; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology