Autophagy proteins regulate cell engulfment mechanisms that participate in cancer

Semin Cancer Biol. 2013 Oct;23(5):329-36. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2013.05.004. Epub 2013 May 30.

Abstract

Recent evidence has uncovered cross-regulation of mechanisms of cell engulfment by proteins of the autophagy pathway, in what is called LC3-Associated Phagocytosis, or LAP. By LAP, lysosome fusion to phagosomes and the degradation of engulfed extracellular cargo are facilitated by autophagy proteins that lipidate LC3 onto phagosome membranes. Here we discuss the contexts where LAP is known to occur by focusing on potential roles in tumorigenesis, including predicted consequences of LAP inhibition.

Keywords: Autophagy; Cell death; Entosis; Immune; Macrophage; Phagocytosis; Tumor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy / physiology*
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phagocytosis / physiology
  • Phagosomes / metabolism
  • Phagosomes / pathology
  • Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Proteins