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Autophagy in immune cell regulation and dysregulation

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports volume 9, pages 341–346 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Autophagy is an ancient pathway required for cell and tissue homeostasis and differentiation. Initially thought to be a process leading to cell death, autophagy is currently viewed as a beneficial catabolic process that promotes cell survival under starvation conditions by sequestering components of the cytoplasm, including misfolded proteins, protein aggregates, and damaged organelles, and targeting them for lysosome-mediated degradation. In this way, autophagy plays a role in maintaining a balance between degradation and recycling of cellular material. The importance of autophagy is underscored by the fact that malfunctioning of this pathway results in neurodegeneration, cancer, susceptibility to microbial infection, and premature aging. Autophagy occurs in almost all cell types, including immune cells. Recent advances in the field suggest that autophagy plays a central role in regulating the immune system at multiple levels. In this review, we focus on recent developments in the area of autophagy-mediated modulation of immune responses.

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Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Twinbrook II, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Room 213, MSC 8180, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA

    Akanksha Chaturvedi

Authors
  1. Akanksha Chaturvedi
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  2. Susan K. Pierce
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Correspondence to Akanksha Chaturvedi.

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Chaturvedi, A., Pierce, S.K. Autophagy in immune cell regulation and dysregulation. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 9, 341–346 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-009-0050-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-009-0050-1

Keywords

  • Major Histocompatibility Complex Class
  • Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
  • Autophagosome Formation
  • Isolation Membrane
  • Immune Cell Regulation