细胞自噬机制开启疾病治疗新途径

自噬是指细胞内细胞器和蛋白质等在溶酶体被降解及其降解产物被重新利用的过程。日本科学家大隅良典(Yoshinori Ohsumi)发现了15个自噬相关基因并阐述了自噬机制,获得2016年诺贝尔生理学与医学奖。他的开创性研究成果为探讨细胞自噬的生理和病理作用奠定了重要基础,并为通过调节细胞自噬治疗疾病开辟了新途径。自噬是一种普遍性细胞反应,正常情况下细胞自噬水平很低,受生理或病理性刺激后自噬水平显著升高。自噬相关基因缺失或自噬功能障碍时可导致某些疾病的发生。近来,人们试图通过激活或抑制细胞自噬预防和治疗自噬障碍相关性疾病。

Mechanism of autophagy opens a new way for treatment of diseases

Autophagy summarizes all processes in which intracellular material is degraded within the lysosome and where the macromolecular constituents are recycled. Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi discovered 15 autophagy-related genes (ATG) and elaborated autophagic mechanisms. He has won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His pioneering research achievements provide an important base for studying physiological and pathological effects of cell autophagy and open a new way for treatment of diseases by modulating autophagy. Autophagy is a common cellular response. The level of autophagy is low in normal condition, while physiological and pathological stimulations up-regulate autophagy significantly. ATG deletion or autophagic disfunction may cause some diseases. Recently, prevention and treatment of autophagic disfunction-related diseases by activating or inhibiting cell autophagy have been tried.