Exp Neurobiol.
2019 Dec;28(6):643-657. 10.5607/en.2019.28.6.643.
Autophagy, Cellular Aging and Age-related Human Diseases
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom. dcr1000@cam.ac.uk
- 2Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea. jelee@yuhs.ac
- 3UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, United Kingdom.
- 4BK21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, and Brain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
- KMID: 2468882
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5607/en.2019.28.6.643
Abstract
- Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved degradation system that engulfs intracytoplasmic contents, including aggregated proteins and organelles, which is crucial for cellular homeostasis. During aging, cellular factors suggested as the cause of aging have been reported to be associated with progressively compromised autophagy. Dysfunctional autophagy may contribute to age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disease, cancer, and metabolic syndrome, in the elderly. Therefore, restoration of impaired autophagy to normal may help to prevent age-related disease and extend lifespan and longevity. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms of autophagy underlying cellular aging and the consequent disease. Understanding the mechanisms of autophagy may provide potential information to aid therapeutic interventions in age-related diseases.
