PMC

In mouse cells as many as 18 IRGs are being induced upon IFNγ stimulation and mediate several antimicrobial activities, including the vesiculation of pathogen-containing vacuoles and accelerated maturation of phagosomes. Overexpression of mouse Irgm1 has also been shown to induce autophagy in macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells , but so far no defect in autophagy in Irgm1 knockout macrophages has been reported. IFNγ is likely to induce autophagy also in an IRG-independent manner. In contrast to mouse IRGs, human IRGM is not IFNγ-inducible. IRGM has been shown to play a regulatory role in the execution of antimicrobial autophagy, but has not been associated with additional antimicrobial activities.