PMID: 28523294May 20, 2017Paper

Autophagy in aging and disease

Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology = Revue Roumaine De Morphologie Et Embryologie
Mădălina FîlfanAurel Popa-Wagner

Abstract

Autophagy is a catabolic degradation system used to destroy and recycle the unnecessary or damaged components of a cell. Autophagy is present at a basal level in all mammals and is regulated by some conditions, such as oxidative stress, starvation or hypoxia. In aged tissues, increased but also decreased expression of autophagy-specific proteins, Beclin 1, LC3, Atg5 and Atg7 has been reported. Likewise, it could be shown that the lifespan of yeast, nematodes and flies is prolonged by pharmacologically stimulated autophagy using exogenous administered spermidine. Autophagy is potentially implicated in acute lung injury and sepsis, two main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Finally, a quite recent study supports the hypothesis that autophagy might be useful in vascular disease prevention by stimulating cholesterol efflux, which leads to inhibition of necrotic core formation and lipid accumulation. Since autophagy is also implicated in neuro-protection, in Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease animal models and many others normal and pathological states, including immunity, diabetes mellitus, different kind of tumors, colorectal cancer, different inflammations, lung diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, autophagy is of i...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cell Aging

This feed focuses on cellular aging with emphasis on mitochondria, autophagy, and metabolic processes associated with aging and longevity. Here is the latest research on cell aging.

Autophagy & Model Organisms

Autophagy is a cellular process that allows degradation by the lysosome of cytoplasmic components such as proteins or organelles. Here is the latest research on autophagy & model organisms

Aging & Diabetes

This feed focuses on the role of the aging process on developing diabetes.

Autophagy & Disease

Autophagy is an important cellular process for normal physiology and both elevated and decreased levels of autophagy are associated with disease. Here is the latest research.

Cell Aging (Keystone)

This feed focuses on cellular aging with emphasis on the mitochondria, autophagy, and metabolic processes associated with aging and longevity. Here is the latest research on cell aging.