Intersections between proteostasis and immunity: insights from Caenorhabditis elegans

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Cellular proteostasis, encompassing protein synthesis, folding, and degradation, is vital for organismal health.
• Pathogens exploit host proteostasis pathways for survival, while host immune responses can further challenge cellular proteostasis.
• The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a model to study the intricate interplay between proteostasis and immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intersection of proteostasis and immunity in C. elegans against various pathogens.
• To organize this review by cellular compartments where proteostasis pathways are activated.
• To highlight conserved mechanisms and organismal resilience.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on proteostasis and immunity in C. elegans.
• Categorization of proteostasis pathways by cellular location (cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes).
• Analysis of host responses to bacterial, viral, microsporidial, and oomycete infections.

Main Results:

• Pathogen infection disrupts host proteostasis, triggering compensatory immune responses.
• Proteostasis pathways activated in different cellular compartments (cytosolic, ER, mitochondrial, lysosomal) are discussed.
• Cross-species conservation of proteostasis-immunity coordination between C. elegans and mammals is evident.

Conclusions:

• Impairment of one proteostasis pathway can activate compensatory mechanisms, conferring a health benefit.
• This compensatory activation enhances host resilience and survival against pathogen infections.
• Understanding proteostasis-immunity interactions in C. elegans offers insights into mammalian health and disease.