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Related Concept Videos

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...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
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...
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.
Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes01:25

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Cecal Ligation and Puncture-induced Sepsis as a Model To Study Autophagy in Mice
06:40

Cecal Ligation and Puncture-induced Sepsis as a Model To Study Autophagy in Mice

Published on: February 9, 2014

Autophagy in infection.

Vojo Deretic1

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. vderetic@salud.unm.edu

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|February 2, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular process, is crucial for immune defense against microbes and maintaining homeostasis. Disruptions in autophagy are linked to inflammatory diseases like Crohn's and tuberculosis.

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Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry
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Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: July 21, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Cecal Ligation and Puncture-induced Sepsis as a Model To Study Autophagy in Mice
06:40

Cecal Ligation and Puncture-induced Sepsis as a Model To Study Autophagy in Mice

Published on: February 9, 2014

Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry
11:39

Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: July 21, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Autophagy is a fundamental eukaryotic pathway for cytoplasmic quality control and homeostasis.
  • It plays a critical role in cell-autonomous defense against intracellular pathogens.
  • Emerging evidence highlights extensive connections between autophagy and both innate and adaptive immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted roles of autophagy in immunity and infectious disease.
  • To investigate the links between autophagy regulators and human disease predisposition.
  • To understand the interplay between autophagy, the ubiquitin system, and microbial defense.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on autophagy in infection control.
  • Analysis of genetic polymorphisms associated with autophagy and disease.
  • Examination of pathogen-specific autophagy evasion mechanisms.
  • Investigation of the ubiquitin-autophagy interface.

Main Results:

  • Autophagy modulation influences immune responses and can prevent inflammation.
  • Genetic variations in autophagy genes (e.g., Atg16L, IRGM) are linked to Crohn's disease and tuberculosis.
  • Animal models demonstrate autophagy's role in controlling infections in vivo.
  • Pathogens employ sophisticated strategies to counteract autophagy.
  • Ubiquitin-binding proteins mediate the selective autophagy of bacteria and damaged mitochondria.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy is a vital component of the immune system, essential for controlling infections and preventing inflammatory disorders.
  • Dysregulation of autophagy has significant implications for human health, particularly in infectious and autoimmune diseases.
  • Further research into the autophagy-ubiquitin system offers potential therapeutic avenues for infectious diseases.