CD8A and Autoimmunity: Deletion of the autophagy proteins Atg5 or Atg7 in effector CD8+ T cells is associated with reduced cell survival and memory CD8+ T cell generation.175,176 Autophagy also supports T cell function in anti-tumor immunity.177 In addition, autophagy is upregulated in Treg cells compared to naïve CD4+ T cells, and it promotes Treg cell responses for suppression of autoimmunity, anti-tumor immunity and other inflammatory disorders.26,178 These effects are attributed, in part, to reduced Treg cell survival in the absence of autophagy.