Abstract:

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process that eliminates molecules and subcellular elements, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and organelles, via lysosome-mediated degradation to promote homeostasis, differentiation, development and survival. While autophagy is intimately linked to health, the intricate relationship among autophagy, aging and disease remains unclear. This Review examines several emerging features of autophagy and postulates how they may be linked to aging as well as to the development and progression of disease. In addition, we discuss current preclinical evidence arguing for the use of autophagy modulators as suppressors of age-related pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we highlight key questions and propose novel research avenues that will likely reveal new links between autophagy and the hallmarks of aging. Understanding the precise interplay between autophagy and the risk of age-related pathologies across organisms will eventually facilitate the development of clinical applications that promote long-term health.

Notes:

Aman, YahyahSchmauck-Medina, TomasHansen, MaleneMorimoto, Richard ISimon, Anna KatharinaBjedov, IvanaPalikaras, KonstantinosSimonsen, AnneJohansen, TerjeTavernarakis, NektariosRubinsztein, David CPartridge, LindaKroemer, GuidoLabbadia, JohnFang, Evandro FengR01 AG038664/AG/NIA NIH HHS/R01 GM117466/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/R37 AG026647/AG/NIA NIH HHS/RF1 AG057296/AG/NIA NIH HHS/Nat Aging. 2021 Aug;1(8):634-650. doi: 10.1038/s43587-021-00098-4. Epub 2021 Aug 12.