Autophagy modulation as a potential therapeutic target for liver diseases - PubMed (original) (raw)

Autophagy modulation as a potential therapeutic target for liver diseases

Pankaj Puri et al. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Autophagy is a critical intracellular pathway which maintains cellular function by lysosomal degradation of damaged proteins and organelles besides elimination of invading pathogens. Its primary function is to prevent cell death. Autophagy has diverse physiological functions namely; starvation adaptation, prevention of tumorigenesis, energy homeostasis, intracellular quality control and degradation of abnormal intracellular protein aggregates. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of autophagy has given key insights into the pathogenesis of various diseases like Non Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis, Hepatitis B and C infections, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacological modulation of autophagy may have a therapeutic potential in management of these liver diseases.

Keywords: AMPk, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein linase; AT, antitrypsin; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HSC, hepatic stellate cells; NASH, Non Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis; STEBPs, sterol regulatory element-binding proteins; TG, triglyceride; ULK1, Uncoordinated 51-like kinase 1; autophagosome; autophagy; liver diseases; mTORC1, mTOR complex 1; mTORC2, mTOR complex 2.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

The autophagy pathway and the core autophagic machinery.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Hruban Z., Spargo B., Swift H., Wissler R.W., Kleinfeld R.G. Focal cytoplasmic degradation. Am J Pathol. 1963;42:657–683. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Arstila A.U., Trump B.F. Studies on cellular autophagocytosis. The formation of autophagic vacuoles in the liver after glucagon administration. Am J Pathol. 1968;53:687–733. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Klionsky D.J., Cregg J.M., Dunn W.A., Jr. A unified nomenclature for yeast autophagy-related genes. Dev Cell. 2003;5:539–545. - PubMed
    1. Rubeinsztein D.C., Martino G., Kroemer G. Autophagy and aging. Cell. 2011;146:682–695. - PubMed
    1. Laplante M., Sabatini D.M. mTOR signaling in growth control and disease. Cell. 2012;13:274–293. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources