Autophagy fights disease through cellular self-digestion.
Autophagy, or cellular self-digestion, is a cellular pathway involved in protein and organelle degradation, with an astonishing number of connections to human disease and physiology. For example, autophagic dysfunction is associated with cancer, neurodegeneration, microbial infection and ageing. Paradoxically, although autophagy is primarily a protective process for the cell, it can also play a role in cell death. Understanding autophagy may ultimately allow scientists and clinicians to harness this process for the purpose of improving human health.
Mizushima
Noboru
N
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
Levine
Beth
B
Cuervo
Ana Maria
AM
Klionsky
Daniel J
DJ
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology