Autophagy Fights Disease Through Cellular Self-digestion

Overview

Journal Nature

Specialty Science

Date 2008 Feb 29

PMID 18305538

Citations 3250

Authors

Noboru Mizushima

Beth Levine

Ana Maria Cuervo

Daniel J Klionsky

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

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.

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