About this Research Topic
It has recently emerged that autophagy plays a significant role in promoting cell secretion in physiologic conditions, but also in several diseases, such as cancer, infections, asthma, and neurodegeneration. The contribution of autophagy in secretion has been extensively demonstrated for several soluble factors and immune modulators such as IL-1β, IL-6, CSF3/G-CSF, CXCL1, TREM1, CCL2, CCL3/MIP-1α, and CXCL2. Additionally, autophagy is recently emerging as a promotor in the formation and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs), thus strongly impacting the regulation of immune response. Autophagy and EVs formation and release share common biological aspects: several molecules are shared between these pathways, the degradation of vesicles from both origins is mediated by lysosomes, and further, autophagic vesicles can be directly released from cells (i.e. secretory autophagy). Moreover, autophagy-dependent secretion has been also described in apoptotic and necrotic cells, granules secretion, as well as in the development and homeostasis regulation of several tissue types. Although several aspects of the crosstalk between autophagy and cell-to-cell communication have been discussed, their impact on the regulation of immune response, both at proximal and distal levels, has not been abundantly covered. Therefore, expanding this knowledge would be relevant not only in understanding physiological conditions, but also in several diseases, as cancer, infection, and neurodegeneration.
Therefore, the goal of this Research Topic is to gain a better understanding of the paracrine and distal interactions among cells both in physiological conditions and diseases.
We encourage the submission of original studies focusing on the molecular and cellular aspects regulating autophagy, the secretion of immunomodulators and extracellular vesicles. Review articles will also be considered. We welcome submissions that cover, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Molecular mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between autophagy, immune response and cellular communication;
• Human cohort studies, meta-analysis of gene and protein expressions, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies of healthy and pathological models;
• Development of novel drugs for the modulation of soluble factors and vesicles secretion, immune response and autophagy;
• Promising therapeutic strategies exploiting autophagy and/ or cell secretion for the regulation of the immune response.
The Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Therefore, the goal of this Research Topic is to gain a better understanding of the paracrine and distal interactions among cells both in physiological conditions and diseases.
We encourage the submission of original studies focusing on the molecular and cellular aspects regulating autophagy, the secretion of immunomodulators and extracellular vesicles. Review articles will also be considered. We welcome submissions that cover, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Molecular mechanisms involved in the crosstalk between autophagy, immune response and cellular communication;
• Human cohort studies, meta-analysis of gene and protein expressions, as well as in vivo and in vitro studies of healthy and pathological models;
• Development of novel drugs for the modulation of soluble factors and vesicles secretion, immune response and autophagy;
• Promising therapeutic strategies exploiting autophagy and/ or cell secretion for the regulation of the immune response.
The Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: autophagy, immune response, soluble factors, cytokines, extracellular vesicles, cell communication
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
