Inhibition of Atg7 in intestinal epithelial cells drives resistance against Citrobacter rodentium.

Autophagy, a cytoprotective mechanism in intestinal epithelial cells, plays a crucial role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Beyond its cell-autonomous effects, the significance of autophagy in these cells is increasingly acknowledged in the dynamic interplay between the microbiota and the immune response. In the context of colon cancer, intestinal epithelium disruption of autophagy has been identified as a critical factor influencing tumor development.