Work

Cellular Self-Defense: How Cell-Autonomous Immunity Protects Against Pathogens

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Our prevailing view of vertebrate host defense is strongly shaped by the notion of a specialized set of immune cells as sole guardians of antimicrobial resistance. Yet this view greatly underestimates a capacity for most cell lineages-the majority of which fall outside the traditional province of the immune system-to defend themselves against infection. This ancient and ubiquitous form of host protection is termed cell-autonomous immunity and operates across all three domains of life. Here, we discuss the organizing principles that govern cellular self-defense and how intracellular compartmentalization has shaped its activities to provide effective protection against a wide variety of microbial pathogens.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1233028

Authors: Felix Randow, John D. MacMicking, Leo C. James

Institutions: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council, Yale University

Language: English

Topic: Immune Response and Inflammation

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Awards: G4556246559, G517926235