Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
09:10

siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

Published on: October 28, 2019

7.5K

Autophagy Modulation in Lymphocytes From COVID-19 Patients: New Therapeutic Target in SARS-COV-2 Infection

Marta Vomero1, Cristiana Barbati1, Tania Colasanti1

  • 1Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Frontiers in Pharmacology
|January 11, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection triggers a cytokine storm, impacting lymphocyte autophagy. Targeting this pathway with anti-rheumatic drugs shows therapeutic potential for COVID-19 treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, characterized by a pro-inflammatory "cytokine storm."
  • Key cytokines like Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-1β are implicated in disease severity and immune cell recruitment.
  • Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, is crucial for lymphocyte function and its modulation by these cytokines is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of SARS-CoV-2 in modulating lymphocyte autophagy.
  • To explore the potential of targeting autophagy in lymphocytes as a therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on SARS-CoV-2, cytokine storm, autophagy, and lymphocyte function.
  • Analysis of preliminary studies examining SARS-CoV-2 infection in lymphocytes and its effect on autophagy.
  • Examination of the impact of anti-rheumatic drugs on autophagy in lymphocytes.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection may directly impact and modulate autophagy within lymphocytes.
  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) play a role in modulating autophagy.
  • Certain anti-rheumatic drugs, considered for COVID-19 treatment, demonstrate the ability to modulate autophagy in lymphocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy modulation in lymphocytes represents a potential therapeutic target for managing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • The interplay between SARS-CoV-2, cytokines, and autophagy in lymphocytes warrants further investigation for novel treatment strategies.
  • Anti-rheumatic drugs targeting autophagy may offer a promising avenue for COVID-19 treatment.
Keywords:
CoViD-19SARS-CoV-2autophagycytokineslymphocytes

More Related Videos

Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry11:39

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

Published on: July 21, 2017

31.8K
Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

850

Related Concept Videos

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...
8.4K
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,...
5.4K
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...
3.8K
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR...
2.5K
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
6.1K
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...
4.3K