Intestinal epithelium and autophagy: partners in gut homeostasis.

ABSTRACT: One of the most significant challenges of cell biology is to understand how each type of cell copes with its specific workload without suffering damage. Among the most intriguing questions concerns intestinal epithelial cells in mammals; these cells act as a barrier between the internally protected region and the external environment that is exposed constantly to food and microbes. A major process involved in the processing of microbes is autophagy. In the intestine, through multiple, complex signaling pathways, autophagy including macroautophagy and xenophagy is pivotal in mounting appropriate intestinal immune responses and anti-microbial protection. Dysfunctional autophagy mechanism leads to chronic intestinal inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies involving a n

SUBMITTER: Randall-Demllo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3786390 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature