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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Mitochondrion. 2017 Nov 23;41:58–65. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2017.11.005

Figure 2. Model of maintenance of memory B cells by mitochondrial autophagy.

Figure 2

Maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis by autophagy contributes to the long-term persistence of memory B cells. Mitochondrial autophagy possibly serves as a regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis by removing superfluous or dysfunctional mitochondria to prevent the release of cell death molecules, mitochondrial DNA, and to maintain a quiescent metabolic state of glucose and lipid metabolism. In autophagy-deficient memory B cells, accumulation of mitochondria could lead to increased release of cell death molecules and the imbalance of quiescent metabolic program.