Abstract

Autophagy as a neuronal housekeeper – A Review

Hygeia.J.D.Med.7 (1) April 2015; 57-64

Mohannad A. Elkhider*, Bob Chaudhuri
De Montfort University, Leicester, East Midlands, United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT

Plan: The present review envisages the role of autophagy in supporting neuronal cell growth, development and remodeling. Neurons are more prone to protein aggregation due to their nature as exist in the cell cycle and in post-mitotic cells.

Preface: Autophagy is a cellular degradative pathway where unwanted and weary cytosolic components are recycled. Targeted elements are delivered to the lysosome for degradation. There are three different modes of autophagy named micro autophagy, macro autophagy, and chaperone mediated autophagy which are responsible for selecting and delivering cargo to the lysosome. The aggregation of certain proteins yields cellular toxicity which eventually leads to cell death and neuro degeneration. Therefore, the autophagic duty of continuously monitoring and clearing out aggregated   proteins is indispensable in neuronal cells.

Outcome: The accumulation of autophagosomes is an established hallmark in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. However, this observation has triggered controversy where one opinion considers the activated autophagic pathway to act as an executioner by initiating neuronal cell death while the other explains the presence of autophagosomes as a final attempt by the cell to sustain viability against the increasing amount of stress.

Keywords:  Autophagy,  Neurodegeneration, Neurodegenerative diseases 

Article citation 

Mohannad A. Elkhider and Bob Chaudhuri. Autophagy as a neuronal housekeeper – a review. . Hygeia.J.D.Med.7 (1) April 2015; 57-64. Available from http://www.hygeiajournal.com 

Article ID-Hygeia.J.D.Med/144/15.   

 DOI: 10.15254/H.J.D.Med.7.2015.144