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Review
. 2024 Jun 28;30(24):3036-3043.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i24.3036.

Harnessing autophagy: A potential breakthrough in digestive disease treatment

Mukaddes Esrefoglu  1
Affiliations
Review

Harnessing autophagy: A potential breakthrough in digestive disease treatment

Mukaddes Esrefoglu. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Autophagy, a conserved cellular degradation process, is crucial for various cellular processes such as immune responses, inflammation, metabolic and oxidative stress adaptation, cell proliferation, development, and tissue repair and remodeling. Dysregulation of autophagy is suspected in numerous diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, digestive disorders, metabolic syndromes, and infectious and inflammatory diseases. If autophagy is disrupted, for example, this can have serious consequences and lead to chronic inflammation and tissue damage, as occurs in diseases such as Chron's disease and ulcerative colitis. On the other hand, the influence of autophagy on the development and progression of cancer is not clear. Autophagy can both suppress and promote the progression and metastasis of cancer at various stages. From inflammatory bowel diseases to gastrointestinal cancer, researchers are discovering the intricate role of autophagy in maintaining gut health and its potential as a therapeutic target. Researchers should carefully consider the nature and progression of diseases such as cancer when trying to determine whether inhibiting or stimulating autophagy is likely to be beneficial. Multidisciplinary approaches that combine cutting-edge research with clinical expertise are key to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of autophagy in digestive diseases.

Keywords: Autophagy; Digestive disease; Gastrointestinal cancer; Harnessing autophagy; Inflammatory bowel disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Many autophagosomes in the cytoplasm of pancreas acinar cells in acute pancreatitis are observed (two of those are marked by orange arrows). Double-membrane structure is clearly seen in some areas (marked by a blue arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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