Autophagy as an innate immunity response against pathogens: a Tango dance

Abstract

Intracellular infections as well as changes in the cell nutritional environment are main events that trigger cellular stress responses. One crucial cell response to stress conditions is autophagy. During the last 30 years, several scenarios involving autophagy induction or inhibition over the course of an intracellular invasion by pathogens have been uncovered. In this review, we will present how this knowledge was gained by studying different microorganisms. We intend to discuss how the cell, via autophagy, tries to repel these attacks with the objective of destroying the intruder, but also how some pathogens have developed strategies to subvert this. These two fates can be compared with a Tango, a dance originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in which the partner dancers are in close connection. One of them is the leader, embracing and involving the partner, but the follower may respond escaping from the leader. This joint dance is indeed highly synchronized and controlled, perfectly reflecting the interaction between autophagy and microorganism.

LC3B labeling of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane of Plasmodium berghei liver stage parasites depends on the V‐ATPase and ATG16L1

“…In Plasmodium, over 80% of all liver stage parasites are labeled with LC3B but many of them persist and successfully develop (Prado et al, 2015;Wacker et al, 2017). This suggests that Plasmodium has evolved different strategies to evade clearance by the autophagic machinery and potentially even benefits from it (Agop-Nersesian et al, 2018;Aguilera et al, 2024;Romano et al, 2023). Here, we even provide evidence that LC3B localization at the PVM supports parasite survival in infected HeLa cells.…”

Autophagy—from yeast to humans: Thirty years of molecular autophagy

“…The special role of autophagy in fighting more common forms of neurodegenerative diseases is highlighted by Ryan and Rubinsztein [22], a pioneer in unrevealing the functional connection between autophagy and neurodegeneration [40]. In the context of deciphering the role of autophagy in maintaining human health, it is further important to highlight that autophagy has a specific role in innate immunity [41], as discussed in the comprehensive review by Colombo and colleagues [42].…”