摘要
In recent times, there has been a significant increase in studies focusing on immunological functions of autophagy, however, knowledge of its roles and regulations in the central nervous system remains unclear. Present reviews highlight the molecular cross talk between host cell autophagy with inflammatory pathways in the context of neuro-infections. Intracellular pathogens might have an ability to manipulate the autophagy regulation process. An augmented autophagy and inflammation at the site of infection is traditionally considered host protective. Moreover, host cell autophagy might also facilitate pathogen survivability and multiplication in the brain environment. Consequently, an excessive autophagy and neuroinflammatory process do put surrounding healthy brain tissue at risk of pathogen invasion. The question arises, whether there are any known direct interactions of intracellular neurotropic pathogens with this degradative pathway that favour intracerebral pathogen survival and growth? It is worth exploring any such cooperation between pathogen factors and altered immune pathways that modulate autophagy regulatory genes causing massive neuronal damage. A detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms in microbial pathogenesis, neuroinflammatory and neuronal autophagy pathways might identify novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.
