RUFY4: Immunity piggybacking on autophagy?

Although autophagy is a highly conserved mechanism among species and cell types, few are the molecules involved with the autophagic process that display cell- or tissue- specific expression. We have unraveled the positive regulatory role on autophagy of RUFY4 (RUN and FYVE domain containing 4), which is expressed in subsets of immune cells, including dendritic cells (DCs). DCs orchestrate the eradication of pathogens by coordinating the action of the different cell types involved in microbe recognition and destruction during the immune response. To fulfill this function, DC display particular regulation of their endocytic and autophagy pathways in response to the immune environment. Autophagy flux is downmodulated in DCs upon microbe sensing, but is remarkably augmented, when cells are differentiated in the presence of the pleiotropic cytokine IL4 (interleukin 4). From gene expression studies aimed at comparing the impact of IL4 on DC differentiation, we identified RUFY4, as a novel regulator that augments autophagy flux and, when overexpressed, induces drastic membrane redistribution and strongly tethers lysosomes. RUFY4 is therefore one of the few known positive regulators of autophagy that is expressed in a cell-specific manner or under specific immunological conditions associated with IL4 expression such as allergic asthma.     

NOD2-mediated autophagy and Crohn disease

Autophagy is important in immune cells as a means of disposing of pathogens and in connecting with the antigen presentation machinery to facilitate immune priming and initiation of a correctly targeted adaptive immune response. While Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are known to regulate autophagy in this context, the extent to which other pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are involved has been unclear. NOD2 is an intracellular PRR of the Nod-like receptor (NLR) family that is notable in that variants in the ligand recognition domain are associated with Crohn disease (CD). Our recent study shows NOD2 activates autophagy in a manner requiring ATG16L1, another CD susceptibility gene. NOD2 autophagy induction is required for bacterial handling and MHC class II antigen presentation in human dendritic cells (DCs). CD patients DCs expressing CD risk variant NOD2 or ATG16L1 display reduced autophagy induction after NOD2 triggering resulting in reduced bacterial killing and defective antigen presentation. Aberrant bacterial handling and immune priming could act as a trigger for inflammation in CD.     

RUN and FYVE domain–containing protein 4 enhances autophagy and lysosome tethering in response to Interleukin-4

Autophagy is a key degradative pathway coordinated by external cues, including starvation, oxidative stress, or pathogen detection. Rare are the molecules known to contribute mechanistically to the regulation of autophagy and expressed specifically in particular environmental contexts or in distinct cell types. Here, we unravel the role of RUN and FYVE domain–containing protein 4 (RUFY4) as a positive molecular regulator of macroautophagy in primary dendritic cells (DCs). We show that exposure to interleukin-4 (IL-4) during DC differentiation enhances autophagy flux through mTORC1 regulation and RUFY4 induction, which in turn actively promote LC3 degradation, Syntaxin 17–positive autophagosome formation, and lysosome tethering. Enhanced autophagy boosts endogenous antigen presentation by MHC II and allows host control of Brucella abortus replication in IL-4–treated DCs and in RUFY4-expressing cells. RUFY4 is therefore the first molecule characterized to date that promotes autophagy and influences endosome dynamics in a subset of immune cells.     

Proper macrophagic differentiation requires both autophagy and caspase activation

Autophagy allows the elimination of superfluous or damaged macromolecules or organelles. Genetic evidence indicates that autophagy plays essential functions during differentiation. The differentiation of human blood monocytes into macrophages is a caspase-dependent process triggered by colony stimulating factor1 (CSF1/CSF-1). We have established, using pharmacological inhibitors, siRNA approaches and Atg7^−/− mice, that autophagy is required for proper CSF1/CSF-1-driven differentiation of human and murine monocytes and acquisition of phagocytic functions. Collectively, these findings highlight an essential role of autophagy during monocyte differentiation and acquisition of macrophage functions. Deciphering the complex interplay between caspase and autophagy that occurs during this process will undoubtedly bring new insights in our understanding of monocyte differentiation.     

Delineating the complex mechanistic interplay between NF-κβ driven mTOR depedent autophagy and monocyte to macrophage differentiation: A functional perspective

Autophagy is an extremely essential cellular process aimed to clear redundant and damaged materials, namely organelles, protein aggregates, invading pathogens, etc. through the formation of autophagosomes which are ultimately targeted to lysosomal degradation. In this study, we demonstrated that mTOR dependent classical autophagy is ubiquitously triggered in differentiating monocytes. Moreover, autophagy plays a decisive role in sustaining the process of monocyte to macrophage differentiation. We have delved deeper into understanding the underlying mechanistic complexities that trigger autophagy during differentiation. Intrigued by the significant difference between the protein profiles of monocytes and macrophages, we investigated to learn that autophagy directs monocyte differentiation via protein degradation. Further, we delineated the complex cross-talk between autophagy and cell-cycle arrest in differentiating monocytes. This study also inspects the contribution of adhesion on various steps of autophagy and its ultimate impact on monocyte differentiation. Our study reveals new mechanistic insights into the process of autophagy associated with monocyte differentiation and would undoubtedly help to understand the intricacies of the process better for the effective design of therapeutics as autophagy and autophagy-related processes have enormous importance in human patho-physiology.     

Deficiency of Autophagy in Dendritic Cells Protects against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the immune system. DCs present antigens to CD8 and CD4 T cells in the context of class I or II MHC. Recent evidence suggests that autophagy, a conserved intracellular degradation pathway, regulates class II antigen presentation. In vitro studies have shown that deletion of autophagy-related genes reduced antigen presentation by APCs to CD4 T cells. In vivo studies confirmed these findings in the context of infectious diseases. However, the relevance of autophagy-mediated antigen presentation in autoimmunity remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that loss of autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) in DCs ameliorated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a CD4 T cell-mediated mouse model of multiple sclerosis, by reducing in vivo priming of T cells. In contrast, severity of hapten-induced contact hypersensitivity, in which CD8 T cells and NK cells play major roles, was unaffected. Administration of the autophagy-lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine, before EAE onset, delayed disease progression and, when administered after the onset, reduced disease severity. Our data show that autophagy is required in DCs for induction of EAE and suggest that autophagy might be a potential target for treating CD4 T cell-mediated autoimmune conditions.     

Autophagy-mediated regulation of macrophages and its applications for cancer

Autophagy is a highly conserved homeostatic pathway that plays an important role in tumor development and progression by acting on cancer cells in a cell-autonomous mechanism. However, the solid tumor is not an island, but rather an ensemble performance that includes nonmalignant stromal cells, such as macrophages. A growing body of evidence indicates that autophagy is a key component of the innate immune response. In this review, we discuss the role of autophagy in the control of macrophage production at different stages (including hematopoietic stem cell maintenance, monocyte/macrophage migration, and monocyte differentiation into macrophages) and polarization and discuss how modulating autophagy in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may represent a promising strategy for limiting cancer growth and progression.     

KSHV reduces autophagy in THP-1 cells and in differentiating monocytes by decreasing CAST/calpastatin and ATG5 expression

We have previously shown that Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) impairs monocyte differentiation into dendritic cells (DCs). Macroautophagy/autophagy has been reported to be essential in such a differentiating process. Here we extended these studies and found that the impairment of DC formation by KSHV occurs through autophagy inhibition. KSHV indeed reduces CAST (calpastatin) and consequently decreases ATG5 expression in both THP-1 monocytoid cells and primary monocytes. We unveiled a new mechanism put in place by KSHV to escape from immune control. The discovery of viral immune suppressive strategies that contribute to the onset and progression of viral-associated malignancies is of fundamental importance for finding new therapeutic approaches against them.     

Proper macrophagic differentiation requires both autophagy and caspase activation

Autophagy allows the elimination of superfluous or damaged macromolecules or organelles. Genetic evidence indicates that autophagy plays essential functions during differentiation. The differentiation of human blood monocytes into macrophages is a caspase-dependent process triggered by colony stimulating factor1 (CSF1/CSF-1). We have established, using pharmacological inhibitors, siRNA approaches and Atg7^?/? mice, that autophagy is required for proper CSF1/CSF-1-driven differentiation of human and murine monocytes and acquisition of phagocytic functions. Collectively, these findings highlight an essential role of autophagy during monocyte differentiation and acquisition of macrophage functions. Deciphering the complex interplay between caspase and autophagy that occurs during this process will undoubtedly bring new insights in our understanding of monocyte differentiation.     

The functions of autophagy at the tumour-immune interface

Autophagy is frequently induced in the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Accumulating evidence reveals important functions of autophagy at the tumour-immune interface. Herein, we propose an update on the roles of autophagy in modulating tumour immunity. Autophagy promotes adaptive resistance of established tumours to the cytotoxic effects of natural killer cells (NKs), macrophages and effector T cells. Increased autophagic flux in tumours dampen their immunogenicity and inhibits the expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by suppressing the activation of STING type I interferon signalling (IFN-I) innate immune sensing pathway. Autophagy in suppressive tumour-infiltrating immune subsets maintains their survival through metabolic remodelling. On the other hand, autophagy is involved in the antigen processing and presentation process, which is essential for anti-tumour immune responses. Genetic deletion of autophagy induces spontaneous tumours in some models. Thus, the role of autophagy is context-dependent. In summary, our review has revealed the dichotomous roles of autophagy in modulating tumour immunity. Broad targeting of autophagy may not yield maximal benefits. The characterization of specific genes regulating tumour immunogenicity and innovation in targeted delivery of autophagy inhibitors into certain tumours are among the most urgent tasks to sensitize cold cancers to immunotherapy.     

Proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii Suppresses Host Cell Autophagy

Autophagy is a process of cytoplasmic degradation of endogenous proteins and organelles. Although its primary role is protective, it can also contribute to cell death. Recently, autophagy was found to play a role in the activation of host defense against intracellular pathogens. The aims of our study was to investigate whether host cell autophagy influences Toxoplasma gondii proliferation and whether autophagy inhibitors modulate cell survival. HeLa cells were infected with T. gondii with and without rapamycin treatment to induce autophagy. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that cell death was extensive at 36-48 hr after infection in cells treated with T. gondii with or without rapamycin. The autophagic markers, LC3 II and Beclin 1, were strongly expressed at 18-24 hr after exposure as shown by Western blotting and RT-PCR. However, the subsequent T. gondii proliferation suppressed autophagy at 36 hr post-infection. Pre-treatment with the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), down-regulated LC3 II and Beclin 1. The latter was also down-regulated by calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor. Monodansyl cadaverine (MDC) staining detected numerous autophagic vacuoles (AVs) at 18 hr post-infection. Ultrastructural observations showed T. gondii proliferation in parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) coinciding with a decline in the numbers of AVs by 18 hr. FACS analysis failed to confirm the presence of cell apoptosis after exposure to T. gondii and rapamycin. We concluded that T. gondii proliferation may inhibit host cell autophagy and has an impact on cell survival.     

Porphyromonas gingivalis Evasion of Autophagy and Intracellular Killing by Human Myeloid Dendritic Cells Involves DC-SIGN-TLR2 Crosstalk

Signaling via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed on professional antigen presenting cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs), is crucial to the fate of engulfed microbes. Among the many PRRs expressed by DCs are Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectins such as DC-SIGN. DC-SIGN is targeted by several major human pathogens for immune-evasion, although its role in intracellular routing of pathogens to autophagosomes is poorly understood. Here we examined the role of DC-SIGN and TLRs in evasion of autophagy and survival of Porphyromonas gingivalis in human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs). We employed a panel of P. gingivalis isogenic fimbriae deficient strains with defined defects in Mfa-1 fimbriae, a DC-SIGN ligand, and FimA fimbriae, a TLR2 agonist. Our results show that DC-SIGN dependent uptake of Mfa1+P. gingivalis strains by MoDCs resulted in lower intracellular killing and higher intracellular content of P. gingivalis. Moreover, Mfa1+P. gingivalis was mostly contained within single membrane vesicles, where it survived intracellularly. Survival was decreased by activation of TLR2 and/or autophagy. Mfa1+P. gingivalis strain did not induce significant levels of Rab5, LC3-II, and LAMP1. In contrast, P. gingivalis uptake through a DC-SIGN independent manner was associated with early endosomal routing through Rab5, increased LC3-II and LAMP-1, as well as the formation of double membrane intracellular phagophores, a characteristic feature of autophagy. These results suggest that selective engagement of DC-SIGN by Mfa-1+P. gingivalis promotes evasion of antibacterial autophagy and lysosome fusion, resulting in intracellular persistence in myeloid DCs; however TLR2 activation can overcome autophagy evasion and pathogen persistence in DCs.     

Generation of cell lines with tetracycline-regulated autophagy and a role for autophagy in controlling cell size

Autophagy is an intracellular bulk degradation system. We established mouse fibroblast lines coupling the Tet-off system with an Atg5(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblast line to artificially regulate autophagic ability. In the presence of doxycycline (Dox), Atg5 expression was completely suppressed and these cells were autophagy-defective. After removal of Dox, autophagic ability was restored within 6h. Very low levels of Atg5 could induce an autophagy competent state. We applied this novel system to examine the contribution of autophagy to controlling cell size. Cell size reduction in response to starvation was significantly inhibited in cells unable to undergo autophagy. The generated cell lines will be useful reagents for future mechanistic studies into the regulation and physiologic significance of autophagy.     

不同分化阶段的树突状细胞的细胞膜生物物理特性变化

DCs是迄今所知最有效的抗原呈递细胞,在体外可以用CD14 的单核细胞诱导分化而得到.imDCs能够主动地摄取抗原和病原体,产生MHC-抗原肽复合物,并且从抗原获取位点向二级淋巴组织迁移,逐渐分化成mDCs,mDCs与幼稚的T细胞相互作用,从而导致免疫应答或耐受.在这些过程中,DCs必须经历数次变形和转位以通过基底膜和血管壁等屏障,并且在二级淋巴组织内与幼稚的T细胞发生直接的物理性接触.为了更好地理解DCs从外周组织向二级淋巴组织迁移的过程和启动免疫应答的机制,通过研究体外DCs分化过程中细胞膜的生物物理特性,包括细胞膜的粘弹性、表面电荷及其分布和流动性,结果发现DCs细胞膜粘弹性逐渐增加,mDCs的电泳率最大,表面电荷分布出现明显的不对称现象,并且膜流动性也逐渐增加,说明DCs的细胞膜生物物理特性在其行使生理功能的过程中发挥着重要的作用,这对更深入地理解DCs的迁移和与幼稚T细胞相互作用以及免疫应答的启动过程具有非常重要的意义.     

IFN-γ Stimulates Autophagy-Mediated Clearance of Burkholderia cenocepacia in Human Cystic Fibrosis Macrophages

Burkholderia cenocepacia is a virulent pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), survives intracellularly in macrophages, and uniquely causes systemic infections in CF. Autophagy is a physiologic process that involves engulfing non-functional organelles and proteins and delivering them for lysosomal degradation, but also plays a role in eliminating intracellular pathogens, including B. cenocepacia. Autophagy is defective in CF but can be stimulated in murine CF models leading to increased clearance of B. cenocepacia, but little is known about autophagy stimulation in human CF macrophages. IFN-γ activates macrophages and increases antigen presentation while also inducing autophagy in macrophages. We therefore, hypothesized that treatment with IFN-γ would increase autophagy and macrophage activation in patients with CF. Peripheral blood monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs) were obtained from CF and non-CF donors and subsequently infected with B. cenocepacia. Basal serum levels of IFN-γ were similar between CF and non-CF patients, however after B. cenocepacia infection there is deficient IFN-γ production in CF MDMs. IFN-γ treated CF MDMs demonstrate increased co-localization with the autophagy molecule p62, increased autophagosome formation, and increased trafficking to lysosomes compared to untreated CF MDMs. Electron microscopy confirmed IFN-γ promotes double membrane vacuole formation around bacteria in CF MDMs, while only single membrane vacuoles form in untreated CF cells. Bacterial burden is significantly reduced in autophagy stimulated CF MDMs, comparable to non-CF levels. IL-1β production is decreased in CF MDMs after IFN-γ treatment. Together, these results demonstrate that IFN-γ promotes autophagy-mediated clearance of B. cenocepacia in human CF macrophages.     

The adjuvants aluminum hydroxide and MF59 induce monocyte and granulocyte chemoattractants and enhance monocyte differentiation toward dendritic cells

Aluminum hydroxide (alum) and the oil-in-water emulsion MF59 are widely used, safe and effective adjuvants, yet their mechanism of action is poorly understood. We assessed the effects of alum and MF59 on human immune cells and found that both induce secretion of chemokines, such as CCL2 (MCP-1), CCL3 (MIP-1alpha), CCL4 (MIP-1beta), and CXCL8 (IL-8), all involved in cell recruitment from blood into peripheral tissue. Alum appears to act mainly on macrophages and monocytes, whereas MF59 additionally targets granulocytes. Accordingly, monocytes and granulocytes migrate toward MF59-conditioned culture supernatants. In monocytes, both adjuvants lead to increased endocytosis, enhanced surface expression of MHC class II and CD86, and down-regulation of the monocyte marker CD14, which are all phenotypic changes consistent with a differentiation toward dendritic cells (DCs). When monocyte differentiation into DCs is induced by addition of cytokines, these adjuvants enhanced the acquisition of a mature DC phenotype and lead to an earlier and higher expression of MHC class II and CD86. In addition, MF59 induces further up-regulation of the maturation marker CD83 and the lymph node-homing receptor CCR7 on differentiating monocytes. Alum induces a similar but not identical pattern that clearly differs from the response to LPS. This model suggests a common adjuvant mechanism that is distinct from that mediated by danger signals. We conclude that during vaccination, adjuvants such as MF59 may increase recruitment of immune cells into the injection site, accelerate and enhance monocyte differentiation into DCs, augment Ag uptake, and facilitate migration of DCs into tissue-draining lymph nodes to prime adaptive immune responses.     

Impact of cellular autophagy on viruses: Insights from hepatitis B virus and human retroviruses

Autophagy is a protein degradative process important for normal cellular metabolism. It is apparently used also by cells to eliminate invading pathogens. Interestingly, many pathogens have learned to subvert the cell’s autophagic process. Here, we review the interactions between viruses and cells in regards to cellular autophagy. Using findings from hepatitis B virus and human retroviruses, HIV-1 and HTLV-1, we discuss mechanisms used by viruses to usurp cellular autophagy in ways that benefit viral replication.     

Dendritic cells: driving the differentiation programme of T cells in viral infections

Protective immunity against viral pathogens depends on the generation and maintenance of a small population of memory CD8(+) T cells. Successful memory cell generation begins with early interactions between na?ve T cell and dendritic cells (DCs) within the inflammatory milieu of the secondary lymphoid tissues. Recent insights into the role of different populations of DCs, and kinetics of antigen presentation, during viral infections have helped to understand how DCs can shape the immune response. Here, we review the recent progress that has been made towards defining how specific DC subsets drive effector CD8(+) T-cell expansion and differentiation into memory cells. Further, we endeavour to examine how the molecular signals imparted by DCs coordinate to generate protective CD8(+) T-cell immunity.     

Autophagy regulation in pancreatic acinar cells is independent of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system in eukaryotic cells that occurs at a basal level. It can also be induced in response to environmental signals including nutrients, hormones, microbial pathogens, and growth factors, although the mechanism is not known in detail. We previously demonstrated that excessive autophagy is induced within pancreatic acinar cells deficient in Spink3, which is a trypsin inhibitor. SPINK1, the human homolog of murine Spink3, has structural similarity to epidermal growth factor (EGF), and can bind and stimulate the EGF receptor (EGFR). To analyze the role of the EGFR in pancreatic development, in the regulation of autophagy in pancreatic acinar cells, and in cerulein-induced pancreatitis, we generated and examined acinar cell-specific Egfr-deficient (Egfr^−/−) mice. Egfr^−/− mice showed no abnormalities in pancreatic development, induction of autophagy, or cerulein-induced pancreatitis, suggesting that Egfr is dispensable for autophagy regulation in pancreatic acinar cells.     

Autophagy in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Autophagy is a non-selective degradation process in eukaryotic cells. The genome sequence of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has revealed that many of the genes required for autophagy are common between the fission yeast and budding yeast, suggesting that the basic machinery of autophagy is conserved between these species. Autophagy in fission yeast is specifically induced by nitrogen starvation based on monitoring a GFP-Atg8p marker. Upon nitrogen starvation, fission yeast cells exit the vegetative cell cycle and initiate sexual differentiation to produce spores. Most of the nitrogen used for de novo protein synthesis during sporulation derives from the autophagic protein degradation system. This review focuses on the recent advances in the role of autophagy in fission yeast.