The University of Osaka Sep 2 2025 Macrophages are part of the immune system's frontline; they attack and eat invaders to protect surrounding cells. They, along with other cells, maintain intracellular conditions through macroautophagy, using autophagosomes to help digest broken cell components. The discovery of its molecular mechanism led researcher Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi to be awarded the Nobel Prize. However, new findings show that internal recycling can take place through a different method