Autophagy Pathways in CNS Myeloid Cell Immune Functions

Abstract

The CNS accommodates a diverse myeloid immune cell compartment that maintains CNS homeostasis in the steady state while contributing to tissue injury during infectious, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease conditions. Autophagy and autophagy proteins play fundamental roles in myeloid cell-related immune functions. Many of these processes do not necessarily involve the canonical formation of a double-membrane structure known as the 'autophagosome' and reflect noncanonical functions of the autophagy machinery. Here, we illustrate recent insights, concepts, and outstanding questions regarding how autophagy pathways in myeloid cells contribute to brain health and disease.

Keywords: antigen presentation; autoimmunity; cytokine; dendritic cell; immune response; inflammasome; microglia; nervous system.