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Autophagy

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 Lysosome

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...

Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes

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...

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

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...

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

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 Death

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
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

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

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

Published on: July 21, 2017

Autophagy in the immune system.

Daniel J Puleston¹, Anna Katharina Simon

¹MRC Human Immunology Unit, The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

|September 3, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular process, is crucial for immunity by degrading pathogens and aiding immune cell function. Further research is needed to understand its in vivo role in natural infections.

Keywords:

adaptive immunity antigen presentation autophagy innate immunity intracellular bacteria

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

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

Published on: February 9, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 8, 2026

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

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

Published on: July 21, 2017

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

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

Published on: February 9, 2014

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Immunology
Microbiology

Background:

Autophagy is a cellular degradation process for cytoplasmic waste.
It targets cellular components, pathogens (especially intracellular bacteria), and plays a role in innate and adaptive immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the multifaceted role of autophagy in the immune system.
To bridge in vitro findings with in vivo applications in natural infections.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on autophagy and immunity.
Analysis of autophagy's role in innate immune responses (cytokine production, phagocytosis).
Examination of autophagy's involvement in adaptive immunity (antigen presentation, T and B cell development).

Main Results:

Autophagy acts downstream of pattern recognition receptors in innate immunity.
It facilitates antigen presentation for MHC class II and T cell cross-priming.
Autophagy is essential for lymphocyte survival, homeostasis, and development (T and B cells).

Conclusions:

Autophagy is a critical effector in the immune system, linking innate and adaptive responses.
Understanding autophagy's in vivo regulation and function during infection is essential.