Proteins encoded by immunity-related GTPase (IRG) gene family are ubiquitous in vertebrates such as humans and mice. and this gene family is related to anti-infection and autophagy. IRG gene family contains only two genes in human genome: immunity-related GTPase family M (IRGM) and IRGC. IRGM is also related to chronic infectious diseases, pulmonary, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis and other inflammatory diseases. In addition, IRGM can promote the occurrence and cell growth of melanoma and hepatocarcinoma, regulate macrophage subpopulation polarization and cytokine production in the context of autoimmune diseases. The study of IRGM will help us to better understand the pathogenesis of systemic diseases, and combine IRGM targeted therapy with immunotherapy, and give reasonable intervention to disease-related cytokines, which is conducive to the treatment of systemic diseases.