Dynamic regulation of cell shape underlies many developmental and immune 
functions. Cortical remodeling is achieved under the central control of Rho 
GTPase pathways that modulate an exquisite balance in the dynamic assembly and 
disassembly of the cytoskeleton and focal adhesions. Macroautophagy (autophagy), 
associated with bulk cytoplasmic remodeling through lysosomal degradation, has 
clearly defined roles in cell survival and death. Moreover, it is becoming 
apparent that proteins, organelles, and pathogens can be targeted for autophagic 
clearance by selective mechanisms, although the extent and roles of such 
degradation are unclear. Here we report a conserved role for autophagy 
specifically in the cortical remodeling of Drosophila blood cells (hemocytes) 
and mouse macrophages. Continuous autophagy was required for integrin-mediated 
hemocyte spreading and Rho1-induced cell protrusions. Consequently, hemocytes 
disrupted for autophagy were impaired in their recruitment to epidermal wounds. 
Cell spreading required ref(2)P, the Drosophila p62 multiadaptor, implicating 
selective autophagy as a novel mechanism for modulating cortical dynamics. These 
results illuminate a specific and conserved role for autophagy as a regulatory 
mechanism for cortical remodeling, with implications for immune cell function.