Antioxidants & redox signaling
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Antioxid. Redox Signal. · Jan 2019
ReviewAutophagy: A Lysosome-Dependent Process with Implications in Cellular Redox Homeostasis and Human Disease.
Autophagy, a lysosome-dependent homeostatic process inherent to cells and tissues, has emerging significance in the pathogenesis of human disease. This process enables the degradation and turnover of cytoplasmic substrates via membrane-dependent sequestration in autophagic vesicles (autophagosomes) and subsequent lysosomal delivery of cargo. Recent Advances: Selective forms of autophagy can target specific substrates (e.g., organelles, protein aggregates, and lipids) for processing. Autophagy is highly regulated by oxidative stress, including exposure to altered oxygen tension, by direct and indirect mechanisms, and contributes to inducible defenses against oxidative stress. Mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) plays a critical role in the oxidative stress response, through maintenance of mitochondrial integrity. ⋯ Investigations that further elucidate the complex role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of disease will facilitate targeting this pathway for therapies in specific diseases.