Autophagy Reports · 16 authors, 16 centres
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This narrative review synthesizes preclinical and mechanistic research on how autophagy, a cellular degradation process, regulates both innate and adaptive immune responses. The central conclusion is that autophagy is a key regulator of immune defense against pathogens and modulates inflammatory responses relevant to infectious, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders.
This narrative review synthesizes existing preclinical and mechanistic research on the interplay between autophagy and the immune system. It describes autophagy as a conserved degradative process that provides cellular quality control and can be triggered by stimuli like nutrient starvation and microbial infection. The review details how autophagy influences innate immune signaling, cell-autonomous defense, and adaptive immunity, including antigen presentation. It discusses the role of non-canonical autophagy in infections and inflammation, and how crosstalk between these processes affects disease states. The review notes that pathogens have evolved mechanisms to subvert autophagy, undermining its host-protective role.
