Role of autophagy and autophagy genes in inflammatory bowel disease

Ken Cadwell, Thaddeus S. Stappenbeck, Herbert W. Virgin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polymorphisms associated with two genes in the autophagy pathway, ATG16L1 and IRGM1, have been implicated in susceptibility to Crohn's disease, an idiopathic inflammatory disease typically involving the gastrointestinal tract. The intestinal mucosa is a site of careful immune regulation where the epithelium and immune cells encounter pathogens as well as a robust and diverse population of indigenous microbes that are predominately bacteria. Since the role of autophagy in immunity is broad and expanding, it is unclear which downstream functions of autophagy and which cell types are the key factors in Crohn's disease susceptibility. This chapter reviews the recent literature on the roles of ATG16L1 and IRGM1 in the autophagy pathway, inflammation, antimicrobial immunity, and the biology of the intestine, and discusses how these genes may contribute to Crohn's disease pathogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAutophagy in Infection and Immunity
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages141-167
Number of pages27
Edition1
ISBN (Print)9783642003011
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

Publication series

NameCurrent Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
Number1
Volume335
ISSN (Print)0070-217X

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