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Nature Reviews. Immunology Feb 2024Cells can die as a consequence of being phagocytosed by other cells - a form of cell death that has been called phagotrophy, cell cannibalism, programmed cell removal... (Review)
Review
Cells can die as a consequence of being phagocytosed by other cells - a form of cell death that has been called phagotrophy, cell cannibalism, programmed cell removal and primary phagocytosis. However, these are all different manifestations of cell death by phagocytosis (termed 'phagoptosis' for short). The engulfed cells die as a result of cytotoxic oxidants, peptides and degradative enzymes within acidic phagolysosomes. Cell death by phagocytosis was discovered by Metchnikov in the 1880s, but was neglected until recently. It is now known to contribute to developmental cell death in nematodes, Drosophila and mammals, and is central to innate and adaptive immunity against pathogens. Cell death by phagocytosis mediates physiological turnover of erythrocytes and other leucocytes, making it the most abundant form of cell death in the mammalian body. Immunity against cancer is also partly mediated by macrophage phagocytosis of cancer cells, but cancer cells can also phagocytose host cells and other cancer cells in order to survive. Recent evidence indicates neurodegeneration and other neuropathologies can be mediated by microglial phagocytosis of stressed neurons. Thus, despite cell death by phagocytosis being poorly recognized, it is one of the oldest, commonest and most important forms of cell death.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Cell Death; Phagocytosis; Microglia; Macrophages; Neurons; Mammals
PubMed: 37604896
DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00921-6 -
Immunological Reviews Oct 2023The phagocytosis of dying cells by macrophages, termed efferocytosis, is a tightly regulated process that involves the sensing, binding, engulfment, and digestion of... (Review)
Review
The phagocytosis of dying cells by macrophages, termed efferocytosis, is a tightly regulated process that involves the sensing, binding, engulfment, and digestion of apoptotic cells. Efferocytosis not only prevents tissue necrosis and inflammation caused by secondary necrosis of dying cells, but it also promotes pro-resolving signaling in macrophages, which is essential for tissue resolution and repair following injury or inflammation. An important factor that contributes to this pro-resolving reprogramming is the cargo that is released from apoptotic cells after their engulfment and phagolysosomal digestion by macrophages. The apoptotic cell cargo contains amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids, and cholesterol that function as metabolites and signaling molecules to bring about this re-programming. Here, we review efferocytosis-induced changes in macrophage metabolism that mediate the pro-resolving functions of macrophages. We also discuss various strategies, challenges, and future perspectives related to drugging efferocytosis-fueled macrophage metabolism as strategy to dampen inflammation and promote resolution in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Topics: Humans; Apoptosis; Phagocytosis; Macrophages; Inflammation; Necrosis
PubMed: 37158427
DOI: 10.1111/imr.13214 -
Nature May 2024Ischaemic diseases such as critical limb ischaemia and myocardial infarction affect millions of people worldwide. Transplanting endothelial cells (ECs) is a promising...
Ischaemic diseases such as critical limb ischaemia and myocardial infarction affect millions of people worldwide. Transplanting endothelial cells (ECs) is a promising therapy in vascular medicine, but engrafting ECs typically necessitates co-transplanting perivascular supporting cells such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which makes clinical implementation complicated. The mechanisms that enable MSCs to facilitate EC engraftment remain elusive. Here we show that, under cellular stress, MSCs transfer mitochondria to ECs through tunnelling nanotubes, and that blocking this transfer impairs EC engraftment. We devised a strategy to artificially transplant mitochondria, transiently enhancing EC bioenergetics and enabling them to form functional vessels in ischaemic tissues without the support of MSCs. Notably, exogenous mitochondria did not integrate into the endogenous EC mitochondrial pool, but triggered mitophagy after internalization. Transplanted mitochondria co-localized with autophagosomes, and ablation of the PINK1-Parkin pathway negated the enhanced engraftment ability of ECs. Our findings reveal a mechanism that underlies the effects of mitochondrial transfer between mesenchymal and endothelial cells, and offer potential for a new approach for vascular cell therapy.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Male; Mice; Autophagosomes; Endothelial Cells; Energy Metabolism; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Ischemia; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mice, Nude; Mitochondria; Mitophagy; Protein Kinases; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
PubMed: 38693258
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07340-0 -
Protein & Cell Sep 2023Lipophagy, the selective engulfment of lipid droplets (LDs) by autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation, is critical to lipid and energy homeostasis. Here we show that...
Lipophagy, the selective engulfment of lipid droplets (LDs) by autophagosomes for lysosomal degradation, is critical to lipid and energy homeostasis. Here we show that the lipid transfer protein ORP8 is located on LDs and mediates the encapsulation of LDs by autophagosomal membranes. This function of ORP8 is independent of its lipid transporter activity and is achieved through direct interaction with phagophore-anchored LC3/GABARAPs. Upon lipophagy induction, ORP8 has increased localization on LDs and is phosphorylated by AMPK, thereby enhancing its affinity for LC3/GABARAPs. Deletion of ORP8 or interruption of ORP8-LC3/GABARAP interaction results in accumulation of LDs and increased intracellular triglyceride. Overexpression of ORP8 alleviates LD and triglyceride deposition in the liver of ob/ob mice, and Osbpl8-/- mice exhibit liver lipid clearance defects. Our results suggest that ORP8 is a lipophagy receptor that plays a key role in cellular lipid metabolism.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Lipid Droplets; Autophagy; Autophagosomes; Homeostasis; Triglycerides
PubMed: 37707322
DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwac063 -
Cell Feb 2024Oocytes are among the longest-lived cells in the body and need to preserve their cytoplasm to support proper embryonic development. Protein aggregation is a major threat...
Oocytes are among the longest-lived cells in the body and need to preserve their cytoplasm to support proper embryonic development. Protein aggregation is a major threat for intracellular homeostasis in long-lived cells. How oocytes cope with protein aggregation during their extended life is unknown. Here, we find that mouse oocytes accumulate protein aggregates in specialized compartments that we named endolysosomal vesicular assemblies (ELVAs). Combining live-cell imaging, electron microscopy, and proteomics, we found that ELVAs are non-membrane-bound compartments composed of endolysosomes, autophagosomes, and proteasomes held together by a protein matrix formed by RUFY1. Functional assays revealed that in immature oocytes, ELVAs sequester aggregated proteins, including TDP-43, and degrade them upon oocyte maturation. Inhibiting degradative activity in ELVAs leads to the accumulation of protein aggregates in the embryo and is detrimental for embryo survival. Thus, ELVAs represent a strategy to safeguard protein homeostasis in long-lived cells.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mice; Autophagosomes; Cytoplasmic Vesicles; Lysosomes; Oocytes; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Aggregates; Proteolysis
PubMed: 38382525
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.031 -
Immunity Aug 2023STING (stimulator of interferon genes) exerts protective cellular responses to viral infection via induction of interferon production and autophagy. Here, we report the...
STING (stimulator of interferon genes) exerts protective cellular responses to viral infection via induction of interferon production and autophagy. Here, we report the role of STING in modulating the immune responses toward fungal infection. Upon Candida albicans stimulation, STING transited alongside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the phagosomes. In phagosomes, STING directly bound with Src via the N-terminal 18 amino acids of STING, and this binding prevented Src from recruiting and phosphorylating Syk. Consistently, Syk-associated signaling and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were increased in mouse BMDCs (bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells) lacking STING with fungal treatment. STING deficiency improved anti-fungal immunity in systemic C. albicans infection. Importantly, administration of the N-terminal 18-aa (amino acid) peptide of STING improved host outcomes in disseminated fungal infection. Overall, our study identifies a previously unrecognized function of STING in negatively regulating anti-fungal immune responses and offers a potential therapeutic strategy for controlling C. albicans infection.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Cytokines; Immunity, Innate; Interferons; Nucleotides; Phagosomes; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 37379835
DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.06.002 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2024One hundred years have passed since the death of Élie Metchnikoff (1845-1916). He was the first to observe the uptake of particles by cells and realized the importance... (Review)
Review
One hundred years have passed since the death of Élie Metchnikoff (1845-1916). He was the first to observe the uptake of particles by cells and realized the importance of this process, named phagocytosis, for the host response to injury and infection. He also was a strong advocate of the role of phagocytosis in cellular immunity, and with this, he gave us the basis for our modern understanding of inflammation and the innate immune response. Phagocytosis is an elegant but complex process for the ingestion and elimination of pathogens, but it is also important for the elimination of apoptotic cells and hence fundamental for tissue homeostasis. Phagocytosis can be divided into four main steps: (i) recognition of the target particle, (ii) signaling to activate the internalization machinery, (iii) phagosome formation, and (iv) phagolysosome maturation. In this chapter, we present a general view of our current knowledge on phagocytosis performed mainly by professional phagocytes through antibody and complement receptors and discuss aspects that remain incompletely understood.
Topics: Phagocytosis; Humans; Animals; Phagosomes; Phagocytes; Signal Transduction; Immunity, Innate
PubMed: 38888769
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3890-3_3 -
Cell Apr 2024Microglia are brain-resident macrophages that shape neural circuit development and are implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases. Multiple microglial transcriptional...
Microglia are brain-resident macrophages that shape neural circuit development and are implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases. Multiple microglial transcriptional states have been defined, but their functional significance is unclear. Here, we identify a type I interferon (IFN-I)-responsive microglial state in the developing somatosensory cortex (postnatal day 5) that is actively engulfing whole neurons. This population expands during cortical remodeling induced by partial whisker deprivation. Global or microglial-specific loss of the IFN-I receptor resulted in microglia with phagolysosomal dysfunction and an accumulation of neurons with nuclear DNA damage. IFN-I gain of function increased neuronal engulfment by microglia in both mouse and zebrafish and restricted the accumulation of DNA-damaged neurons. Finally, IFN-I deficiency resulted in excess cortical excitatory neurons and tactile hypersensitivity. These data define a role for neuron-engulfing microglia during a critical window of brain development and reveal homeostatic functions of a canonical antiviral signaling pathway in the brain.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Interferon Type I; Microglia; Neurons; Zebrafish; Brain
PubMed: 38490196
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.020 -
The Journal of Cell Biology Aug 2023Autophagy is a conserved and tightly regulated intracellular quality control pathway. ULK is a key kinase in autophagy initiation, but whether ULK kinase activity also...
Autophagy is a conserved and tightly regulated intracellular quality control pathway. ULK is a key kinase in autophagy initiation, but whether ULK kinase activity also participates in the late stages of autophagy remains unknown. Here, we found that the autophagosomal SNARE protein, STX17, is phosphorylated by ULK at residue S289, beyond which it localizes specifically to autophagosomes. Inhibition of STX17 phosphorylation prevents such autophagosome localization. FLNA was then identified as a linker between ATG8 family proteins (ATG8s) and STX17 with essential involvement in STX17 recruitment to autophagosomes. Phosphorylation of STX17 S289 promotes its interaction with FLNA, activating its recruitment to autophagosomes and facilitating autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Disease-causative mutations around the ATG8s- and STX17-binding regions of FLNA disrupt its interactions with ATG8s and STX17, inhibiting STX17 recruitment and autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Cumulatively, our study reveals an unexpected role of ULK in autophagosome maturation, uncovers its regulatory mechanism in STX17 recruitment, and highlights a potential association between autophagy and FLNA.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein 8 Family; Macroautophagy; Phosphorylation; Humans; Qa-SNARE Proteins; Filamins
PubMed: 37389864
DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202211025 -
Autophagy Jul 2023Macroautophagy/autophagy has been shown to exert a dual role in cancer i.e., promoting cell survival or cell death depending on the cellular context and the cancer...
Macroautophagy/autophagy has been shown to exert a dual role in cancer i.e., promoting cell survival or cell death depending on the cellular context and the cancer stage. Therefore, development of potent autophagy modulators, with a clear mechanistic understanding of their target action, has paramount importance in both mechanistic and clinical studies. In the process of exploring the mechanism of action of a previously identified cytotoxic small molecule (SM15) designed to target microtubules and the interaction domain of microtubules and the kinetochore component NDC80/HEC1, we discovered that the molecule acts as a potent autophagy inhibitor. By using several biochemical and cell biology assays we demonstrated that SM15 blocks basal autophagic flux by inhibiting the fusion of correctly formed autophagosomes with lysosomes. SM15-induced autophagic flux blockage promoted apoptosis-mediated cell death associated with ROS production. Interestingly, autophagic flux blockage, apoptosis induction and ROS production were rescued by genetic or pharmacological inhibition of OGT (O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase) or by expressing an O-GlcNAcylation-defective mutant of the SNARE fusion complex component SNAP29, pointing to SNAP29 as the molecular target of SM15 in autophagy. Accordingly, SM15 was found to enhance SNAP29 O-GlcNAcylation and, thereby, inhibit the formation of the SNARE fusion complex. In conclusion, these findings identify a new pathway in autophagy connecting O-GlcNAcylated SNAP29 to autophagic flux blockage and autophagosome accumulation, that, in turn, drives ROS production and apoptotic cell death. Consequently, modulation of SNAP29 activity may represent a new opportunity for therapeutic intervention in cancer and other autophagy-associated diseases.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Macroautophagy; Reactive Oxygen Species; Lysosomes; SNARE Proteins; Apoptosis
PubMed: 36704963
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2170962