Autophagy during ageing – from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde. (16th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilhelm, Thomas; Richly, Holger
• Is Part Of: FEBS journal. Volume 285:Number 13(2018)
• Page Start: 2367
• Page End: 2376
• Publication Date: 2018-04-16
• Subjects: ageing -- antagonistic pleiotropy -- autophagy -- Caenorhabditis elegans -- longevity; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1111/febs.14453
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-464X

Abstract

Abstract : Autophagy is a ubiquitous catabolic process, which causes cellular bulk degradation through vesicular engulfment of obsolete, damaged or harmful cytoplasmic components. While autophagy regulates cellular homeostasis during development and in youth, there is mounting evidence that autophagy becomes increasingly dysfunctional with age. Recent work in Caenorhabditis elegans even suggests that late‐life dysfunctional autophagy exhibits detrimental effects that drive the ageing process. Other studies link elevated autophagy closely to increased health and longevity. This review aims to put these apparently opposing views into perspective and define our current understanding of the role of autophagy during ageing. Abstract : The catabolic process of autophagy promotes fitness and health through degradation of superfluous, damaged and potentially harmful cellular components. In contrast, recent studies show that this cellular recycling machinery becomes increasingly dysfunctional and detrimental as organisms age. With particular attention to studies in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, we review these converse effects of autophagy on health and lifespan.