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Complement-Related Regulates Autophagy in Neighboring Cells

Lin Lin1, Frederico S L M Rodrigues2, Christina Kary3

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 3520 San Martin Dr., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

Cell
|July 1, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Drosophila macroglobulin complement-related (Mcr) influences autophagy in neighboring cells, impacting inflammation and cell death. This cross-cellular regulation involves the Draper immune receptor, revealing a novel role for complement in intercellular signaling.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Autophagy is crucial for cellular homeostasis, development, and health, typically regulated within individual cells.
  • Intercellular signals are known to influence autophagy, but the mechanisms of cell-to-cell communication in this process are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Drosophila macroglobulin complement-related (Mcr) in autophagy regulation.
  • To explore the relationship between Mcr, autophagy, and inflammation control.
  • To elucidate the intercellular signaling pathways involved in autophagy regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.
  • Investigated the function of Mcr during developmental cell death and inflammation.
  • Examined the involvement of the immune receptor Draper in Mcr-mediated autophagy.
  • Studied Mcr's role in epithelial cell-dependent macrophage autophagy and migration.

Main Results:

  • Drosophila Mcr influences autophagy in neighboring cells, affecting developmental cell death and inflammation.
  • Mcr's function in autophagy regulation is dependent on the immune receptor Draper.
  • Epithelial cell Mcr is essential for macrophage autophagy and migration to wounds, a process mediated by Draper.

Conclusions:

  • Complement-related proteins can regulate autophagy in adjacent cells through ancient immune signaling pathways.
  • This study reveals an unexpected cross-cellular role for Mcr in modulating autophagy via the Draper-dependent immune pathway.
  • Highlights a novel connection between complement system signaling and the regulation of autophagy and inflammation.
Keywords:
autophagycomplementimmune-receptor signalingprogrammed cell death

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