Function of autophagy genes in innate immune defense against mucosal pathogens

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2024 Mar 29;79:102456. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102456. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMucosal immunity is posed to constantly interact with commensal microbes and invading pathogens. As a fundamental cell biological pathway affecting immune response, autophagy regulates the interaction between mucosal immunity and microbes through multiple mechanisms, including direct elimination of microbes, control of inflammation, antigen presentation and lymphocyte homeostasis, and secretion of immune mediators. Some of these physiologically important functions do not involve canonical degradative autophagy but rely on certain autophagy genes and their 'autophagy gene-specific functions.' Here, we review the relationship between autophagy and important mucosal pathogens, including influenza virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella enterica, Citrobacter rodentium, norovirus, and herpes simplex virus, with a particular focus on distinguishing the canonical versus gene-specific mechanisms of autophagy genes.PMID:38554450 | DOI:10.1016/j.mib.2024.102456

Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology - March 30, 2024 Category: Microbiology Authors: Xiaoyan Cui Ya-Ting Wang Source Type: research