Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an intracellular pathogen causing human tuberculosis, an infectious disease that still remains as a global health problem. Autophagy, a lysosomal degradative process, has emerged as a critical pathway to restrict intracellular Mtb growth through enhancement of phagosomal maturation. Indeed, several autophagy-modulating agents show promise as host-directed therapeutics for Mtb infection. In this Review, we discuss recent progress in our understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of autophagy-modulating agents to overcome the immune escape strategies mediated by Mtb. The factors and pathways that govern such mechanisms include adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase, Akt/mammalian TOR kinase, Wnt signaling, transcription factor EB, cathelicidins, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy-related genes. A further understanding of these mechanisms will facilitate the development of host-directed therapies against tuberculosis as well as infections with other intracellular bacteria targeted by autophagic degradation.
Highlights
Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process that maintains cell homeostasis during stress conditions (Ryter et al, 2013)
Autophagy process is linked to various biological responses, including inflammation, metabolism, and innate effector pathways (Gutierrez et al, 2004; Deretic, 2008; Rabinowitz and White, 2010; Kimmey et al, 2015; Bergman et al, 2020; Chai et al, 2020; Mendes et al, 2020; Painter et al, 2020)
Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact molecular pathways through which AMPK-induced autophagy activation contributes to host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection
Summary
Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process that maintains cell homeostasis during stress conditions (Ryter et al, 2013). Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact molecular pathways through which AMPK-induced autophagy activation contributes to host defense against Mtb infection.
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