title: [Autophagy in liver diseases].
abstract: Two major degradation systems exist in cells: the lysosome and proteasome. In the lysosome system, extracellular materials are degraded via endocytosis. Intracellular materials are degraded by autophagy, a cellular pathway crucial for various intracellular events. It has recently been demonstrated that autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases. In hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection, autophagy is enhanced in hepatocytes. In hepatic steatosis, hepatocyte autophagy is inhibited. The expression of the autophagy protein is disrupted in hepatocellular carcinoma. I summarize recent advances in the study of the involvement of autophagy in various liver diseases. The regulation of autophagy in the liver may be a useful therapeutic strategy for various liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D001343:Autophagy / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000502:physiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000209:etiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D059609:Mallory Bodies / Q000502:physiology; D017510:Protein Folding; D013217:Starvation