Digesting the crisis: Autophagy and coronaviruses

Didac Carmona-Gutierrez, Maria A. Bauer, Andreas Zimmermann, Katharina Kainz, Sebastian J. Hofer, Guido Kroemer, Frank Madeo

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    62 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Autophagy is a catabolic pathway with multifaceted roles in cellular homeostasis. This process is also involved in the antiviral response at multiple levels, including the direct elimination of intruding viruses (virophagy), the presentation of viral antigens, the fitness of immune cells, and the inhibition of excessive inflammatory reactions. In line with its central role in immunity, viruses have evolved mechanisms to interfere with or to evade the autophagic process, and in some cases, even to harness autophagy or constituents of the autophagic machinery for their replication. Given the devastating consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the question arises whether manipulating autophagy might be an expedient approach to fight the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In this piece, we provide a short overview of the evidence linking autophagy to coronaviruses and discuss whether such links may provide actionable targets for therapeutic interventions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)119-128
    Number of pages10
    JournalMicrobial Cell
    Volume7
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 4 May 2020

    Keywords

    • COVID-19
    • Coronavirus
    • Immunity
    • Inflammation
    • MERS
    • SARS
    • SARS-CoV-2
    • Virophagy

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