Autophagy and Autophagic Cell Death: Uncovering New Mechanisms Whereby Dehydroepiandrosterone Promotes Beneficial Effects on Human Health

Vitamins and Hormones
Rolando Vegliante, Maria Rosa Ciriolo

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant steroid hormone in human serum and a precursor of sexual hormones. Its levels, which are maximum between the age of 20 and 30, dramatically decline with aging thus raising the question that many pathological conditions typical of the elderly might be associated with the decrement of circulating DHEA. Moreover, since its very early discovery, DHEA and its metabolites have been shown to be active in many pathophysiological contexts, including cardiovascular disease, brain disorders, and cancer. Indeed, treatment with DHEA has beneficial effects for the cure of these and many other pathologies in vitro, in vivo, and in patient studies. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying DHEA effects have been only partially elucidated. Autophagy is a self-digestive process, by which cell homeostasis is maintained, damaged organelles removed, and cell survival assured upon stress stimuli. However, high rate of autophagy is detrimental and leads to a form of programmed cell death known as autophagic cell death (ACD). In this chapter, we describe the process of autophagy and the morphological and biochemical features of ACD. Moreover, we analyze the beneficial effects of DHEA in several pat...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 21, 2019·Cell Death and Differentiation·Tianqi XuSharad Kumar
Jun 18, 2019·Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity·Fabio CiccaroneMaria Rosa Ciriolo
Jun 13, 2020·Archives of Toxicology·Qiuhua TanZhengquan Su
Oct 27, 2018·Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·Jia LinJin-Long Li

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