The role of autophagy in Paneth cell differentiation and secretion.

Paneth cells are a small intestinal epithelial cell lineage that is considered to have a role in innate immune function. Recent studies on mice with diminished and/or loss of autophagy have suggested that Paneth cells are a primary target in vivo. Interestingly, loss of autophagy affects the secretion of antimicrobial proteins from Paneth cells. Understanding the intersection of the autophagy pathway with the secretory apparatus, which is a key feature of differentiation of Paneth cells, is a key unanswered question.