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Related Concept Videos

Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis ("cellular eating") is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects, such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.
The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). Many immune system cells, including...
Phagocytosis00:41

Phagocytosis

Cells pull particles inward and engulf them in spherical vesicles in an energy-requiring process called endocytosis. Phagocytosis (“cellular eating”) is one of three major types of endocytosis. Cells use phagocytosis to take in large objects—such as other cells (or their debris), bacteria, and even viruses.The objective of phagocytosis is often destruction. Cells use phagocytosis to eliminate unwelcome visitors, like pathogens (e.g., viruses and bacteria). It is perhaps unsurprising, that many...
Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...

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Isolation of Salmonella typhimurium-containing Phagosomes from Macrophages
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Isolation of Salmonella typhimurium-containing Phagosomes from Macrophages

Published on: October 25, 2017

Autophagosome and phagosome.

Vojo Deretic1

  • 1Health Sciences Center, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 22, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy and phagocytosis are ancient cellular processes for nutrient acquisition and waste removal. These related mechanisms, essential for cellular homeostasis, have evolved specialized roles in human health and disease.

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"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Autophagy and phagocytosis are evolutionarily ancient processes involved in cellular metabolism and nutrient generation.
  • While often viewed separately, they are topologically similar, differing in whether they process intracellular or extracellular material.
  • Both processes are fundamental for cellular homeostasis and have evolved specialized functions in multicellular organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the regulatory and execution stages of autophagy and phagocytosis.
  • To highlight the conserved roles and specialized functions of these cellular processes.
  • To underscore the cooperation between autophagy and phagocytosis in immunity and tissue homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on autophagy and phagocytosis.
  • Comparative analysis of the morphological and functional similarities between the two processes.
  • Discussion of their roles in cellular metabolism, homeostasis, and disease states.

Main Results:

  • Autophagy sequesters intracellular material into autophagosomes, while phagocytosis engulfs extracellular material into phagosomes.
  • Both processes lead to the formation of degradative organelles (autolysosomes and phagolysosomes).
  • Autophagy and phagocytosis are implicated in various human diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and immune disorders, and cooperate in immunity and tissue homeostasis.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy and phagocytosis represent a spectrum of related cellular processes crucial for survival and homeostasis.
  • Their conserved roles in nutrition and evolved functions in multicellularity highlight their importance in health and disease.
  • Understanding their regulation and execution is vital for addressing associated pathologies.