Modulation of autophagy plays a central role in dendritic cell functions after Echinococcus antigen recognition.

CHOP, MAIA; LOOS, JULIA; NICOLAO, MARÍA CELESTE; CUMINO, ANDREA C.; RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUES, CHRISTIAN

Bristol

Congreso; Autophagy UK; 2021

The cestode Echinococcus granulosus (Eg) is the etiological agent for cystic echinococcosis.that is considered as a re-emerging and neglected disease. In the viscera of the intermediatehost, the parasites develop hydatid cysts (Figure 1). Under pressure and inside of the cyst it isfound the hydatid fluid (HF) constitute by different macromolecules including a wide range ofparasite and host proteins. During the infection course, the cyst may rupture or slowly leak out, leading to different host immune responses, ranging from a severe anaphylactic shock to a spontaneous resolution of the infection. Eg-antigens could be detected by dendritic cells (DCs) in the periphery or in the blood and migrate to the lymphoid organs, where they activate the specific immune response by inducing cytokine release and presenting processed peptides in an MHC molecule to specific T cells. Autophagy is also an important process for the presentation of endogenous and exogenous proteins on MHC I and II molecules, promoting activation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells respectively.