Chats and Spats of Autophagy and Innate Immune Systems

The innate immune system and autophagy are the two fundamental pillars of host defense. Both processes coordinate to maintain cellular homeostasis and protect from multiple threats, ranging from invading pathogens to cellular stresses. Innate immune pathways provide the first line of defense against infections and endogenous threats. They sense microbial structures called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from stressed or damaged cells and mount robust inflammatory responses. Autophagy is a fundamental process that maintains cellular homeostasis by performing multiple functions, including the turnover of damaged organelles and the killing of intracellular pathogens. While initially considered independent pathways, an overwhelming number of studies suggest dynamic crosstalk between these two cell-autonomous systems. Understanding this bidirectional communication will help in developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and other immune-related pathologies. This review focuses on the multifaceted relationship between autophagy and innate immunity.