Dangerous liaisons: The apoptotic engulfment receptor CED-1 links innate immunity to the unfolded protein response

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Haskins et al. describe a molecular link between an apoptotic cell receptor, a branch of the unfolded protein response, and innate immunity. The finding that the plasma membrane phagocytic receptor CED-1 promotes the expression of unfolded response genes suggests a novel regulatory mechanism for the control of this primitive immune system that may couple the presence of pathogen with the production of secreted antimicrobial effectors.