title: Morbus Crohn--a disease of failing macroautophagy in the immune system?
abstract: Mutations in genes involved in macroautophagy have been found to be associated with Morbus Crohn, also called Crohn's disease (CD), an inflammatory bowel disease. Taking this disease as an example for pathogenesis due to altered macroautophagy, we discuss here how macroautophagy supports innate and adaptive immunity. This support ranges from maintenance of components of the immune system, antigen processing for presentation to the immune system, to education of the immune system in order to distinguish self from dangerous non-self. A better understanding of these mechanisms should allow us not only to develop therapeutical strategies for CD but also to utilize macroautophagy for enhanced immunity against pathogens and tumors.
authors.affiliation: Viral Immunobiology, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meixlsperger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Münz
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D001343:Autophagy / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D025841:Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; D020123:Sirolimus