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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,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates

Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates

Published on: January 30, 2014

Synucleinphagy: a microglial "community cleanup program" for neuroprotection.

Insup Choi¹, Steven P Seegobin¹, Dongxiao Liang^1,2

¹Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York, NY, USA.

|May 27, 2020

Summary

Microglia clear toxic alpha-synuclein (SNCA) via selective autophagy, termed "synucleinphagy," protecting against Parkinson disease hallmarks. Impaired microglial autophagy leads to neurodegeneration.

Keywords:

Microglia autophagy α-synuclein

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Last Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates

Isolation of Cortical Microglia with Preserved Immunophenotype and Functionality From Murine Neonates

Published on: January 30, 2014

In vitro Quantitative Imaging Assay for Phagocytosis of Dead Neuroblastoma Cells by iPSC-Macrophages

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Published on: February 14, 2021

Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility

Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility

Published on: April 13, 2017

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Immunology

Background:

Alpha-synuclein (SNCA) aggregation in Lewy bodies characterizes Parkinson disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy body (DLB).
Extracellular SNCA can spread between cells, contributing to synucleinopathy progression.
Microglia, the brain's immune cells, play a role in clearing cellular debris and pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanism by which microglia engulf and degrade extracellular SNCA.
To elucidate the role of microglial autophagy in maintaining SNCA homeostasis.
To determine the neuroprotective function of microglia in synucleinopathies.

Main Methods:

Utilized microglia-specific autophagy-deficient mice for in vivo and in vitro studies.
Investigated the involvement of SQSTM1/p62-mediated selective autophagy.
Examined the role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and NF-κB signaling pathway.

Main Results:

Microglia engulf and degrade neuron-released SNCA via SQSTM1/p62-mediated selective autophagy, termed 'synucleinphagy'.
This process is dependent on TLR4, which upregulates SQSTM1/p62 transcription through the NF-κB pathway.
Disruption of microglial autophagy leads to SNCA accumulation and dopaminergic neuron loss.

Conclusions:

Microglia exert a neuroprotective effect in synucleinopathies through an autophagy-dependent 'community cleanup program'.
Targeting microglial autophagy may offer a therapeutic strategy for Parkinson disease and related disorders.