Autophagy

Autophagy is a process of cellular self-digestion, which is essential for maintaining the health of cells, and therefore the body. It works by engulfing parts of the cell or foreign, unwanted materials, and then breaking them down. This allows the cell to remove damaged proteins and organelles, as well as recycle them to be used again. Autophagy has important functions in the body, such as helping to defend against infectious microorganisms, protecting against cancer and aging, as well as maintaining metabolic homeostasis. It has been found to play an important role in many diseases and has been linked to a variety of conditions including Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, diabetes, stroke, and heart failure. Autophagy is also being actively explored for its potential uses in cancer therapy, where it has been found to selectively target cancer cells and limit their spread. Thanks to its importance in cellular metabolism and health, autophagy is increasingly being cited as a key target for the development of novel therapeutics.