Role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Table 1 Genetic variants related to inflammatory bowel disease and autophagy

Gene	Chromosomal site	Relation to autophagy
NOD2	16q12.1	Intracellular bacterial sensing
		Autophagosome formation
ATG16L1	2p37.1	Autophagosome formation
		Suppressing Paneth cells
IRGM	5q33.1	Phagosome maturation
		Virus-induced autophagy
IL-23R	1p31.3	Through effects on IL-1 secretion
XIAP	Xq25	Physiological inhibitor of autophagy
LRRK2	12q12	Autophagosomal-lysosomal degradation
ULK1	12q24.33	Regulated by TORC1 and AMPK
VDR	12q13.11	Regulate the expression of NOD2
MTMR3	22q12.2	Autophagosome formation

Table 2 Therapeutic agents for inflammatory bowel disease related to autophagy

Drug	Influence on autophagy	Mechanism related to autophagy
5-ASA	Promotion	Through NF-κB signaling pathway
Corticosteroid	Promotion	Through NF-κB signaling pathway
		Through mTORC1 signaling pathway
		Through overexpression of Bcl-2
		in immature T-lymphocytes
		Osteocyte viability
Thiopurine	Promotion	Clearance of TPMT*3A aggregates
(AZA, 6-MP)		and/or aggregate precursors
		Protective role in hepatocytes
Immunomodulatory drugs	Promotion	Response to toxicity
(CsA, FK506)		Through mTORC1 signaling pathway
Biological drugs	Inhibition	Anti-TNF agents inhibit
(IFX, ADA, etc.)		autophagy (not yet clear)

5-ASA: 5-aminosalicylic acid; mTORC1: Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1; AZA: Azathioprine; 6-MP: 6-Mercaptopurine; TPMT: Thiopurine S-methyltransferase; CsA: Cyclosporine A; IFX: Infliximab; ADA: Adalimumab; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor.