Autophagy and checkpoints for intracellular pathogen defense

作者：Paulus Geraldine L C; Xavier Ramnik J^*

来源：Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 2015, 31(1): 14-23.

DOI：10.1097/MOG.0000000000000134

• autophagy
• interferon gamma-mediated pathogen elimination
• LC3-associated phagocytosis
• pathogen survival strategies
• xenophagy

Purpose of review
Autophagy plays a crucial role in intracellular defense against various pathogens. Xenophagy is a form of selective autophagy that targets intracellular pathogens for degradation. In addition, several related, yet distinct, intracellular defense responses depend on autophagy-related genes. This review gives an overview of these processes, pathogen strategies to subvert them, and their crosstalk with various cell death programs.
Recent findings
The recruitment of autophagy-related proteins plays a key role in multiple intracellular defense programs, specifically xenophagy, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (LC3)-associated phagocytosis, and the interferon gamma-mediated elimination of pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii and murine norovirus. Recent progress has revealed methods employed by pathogens to resist these intracellular defense mechanisms and/or persist in spite of them. The intracellular pathogen load can tip the balance between cell survival and cell death. Further, it was recently observed that LC3-associated phagocytosis is indispensable for the efficient clearance of dying cells.
Summary
Autophagy-dependent and autophagy-related gene-dependent pathways are essential in intracellular defense against a broad range of pathogens.

• 出版日期2015-1
• 单位MIT