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Cellular self‐cannibalism helps immune cells fight the flu
Author(s) -
Postoak Joshua Luke,
Yang Guan,
Wu Lan,
Van Kaer Luc
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.15641
Subject(s) - immune system , autophagy , antigen , virus , biology , virology , immunology , extracellular , cannibalism , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , apoptosis , genetics , larva
CD4 T cells are critical for generating protective immune responses to infection with influenza virus. Although most CD4 T cells react with peptides from extracellular sources, many react with peptides from viral particles synthesized inside cells; however, the pathways employed for processing the latter antigens remain uncertain. Deng et al . provide evidence for a role of autophagy, a cellular self‐eating process, in this unconventional antigen processing route, with potential implications for the development of influenza virus vaccines.