Autophagy in autoimmune disease

Abstract

Cell death process can be involved in the development, differentiation, inflammation, immunity and tumorigenesis. Molecular mechanism of apoptotic cell death has been unveiled while molecular mechanisms of the other programmed cell death, especially necroptosis and autophagy, also have been elucidated. Autophagy is a highly conserved lysosome-mediated catabolic process and a homeostatic process to degrade unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular organelles and to recycle nutrients. The relation between autophagy and human disease has been reported. Here, we describe about the role of autophagy in autoimmune disease. © 2014 The Japan Society for Clinical Immunology.