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Dendritic cells: microbial clearance via autophagy and potential immunobiological consequences for periodontal disease
Author(s) -
ElAwady Ahmed R.,
Arce Roger M.,
Cutler Christopher W.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
periodontology 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.725
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1600-0757
pISSN - 0906-6713
DOI - 10.1111/prd.12096
Subject(s) - autophagy , immune system , context (archaeology) , immunology , medicine , disease , antigen presentation , homeostasis , acquired immune system , dendritic cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , t cell , apoptosis , pathology , paleontology , biochemistry
Dendritic cells are potent antigen‐capture and antigen‐presenting cells that play a key role in the initiation and regulation of the adaptive immune response. This process of immune homeostasis, as maintained by dendritic cells, is susceptible to dysregulation by certain pathogens during chronic infections. Such dysregulation may lead to disease perpetuation with potentially severe systemic consequences. Here we discuss in detail how intracellular pathogens exploit dendritic cells and escape degradation by altering or evading autophagy. This novel mechanism explains, in part, the chronic, persistent nature observed in several immuno‐inflammatory diseases, including periodontal disease. We also propose a hypothetical model of the plausible role of autophagy in the context of periodontal disease. Promotion of autophagy may open new therapeutic strategies in the search of a ‘cure’ for periodontal disease in humans.