Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
Lysosomal Hydrolases01:22

Lysosomal Hydrolases

Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Targeting macrophage ferritin heavy chain mitigates ferroptosis and lung injury in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Bridging the Gap: The Emerging Role of memory CD8+ T Cells in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.

American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology·2026
Same author

Early Pulmonary Fibrosis is Defined by Niche- and Cell-Specific Molecular Programs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Relevant insights from personalized inhaled carbon monoxide dosing in a safety study in pneumonia and ARDS.

Respiratory research·2026
Same author

CO-PERK-IRG1 axis attenuates oxidative stress and ferroptosis in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Free radical biology & medicine·2025
Same author

High-fat diet obesity exacerbates acute lung injury-induced dysregulation of fatty acid oxidation in alveolar epithelial type 2 cells.

American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

Autophagy in the lung.

Stefan W Ryter1, Augustine M K Choi

  • 1Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. sryter@partners.org

Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society
|February 18, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular recycling process, increases in lung disease. This study suggests increased autophagy contributes to epithelial cell death in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

More Related Videos

Activating Autophagy by Aerobic Exercise in Mice
08:44

Activating Autophagy by Aerobic Exercise in Mice

Published on: February 3, 2017

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice
08:40

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Published on: November 22, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

Activating Autophagy by Aerobic Exercise in Mice
08:44

Activating Autophagy by Aerobic Exercise in Mice

Published on: February 3, 2017

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice
08:40

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Published on: November 22, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Autophagy is a cellular degradation pathway crucial for homeostasis and cell survival during stress.
  • Its role in human lung diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is not well understood.
  • Lung cells utilize autophagy as a response to various injurious agents, including cigarette smoke.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and significance of autophagy in human lung diseases.
  • To examine the association between autophagy and epithelial cell death in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Main Methods:

  • Observed increased autophagy in mouse lungs exposed to chronic cigarette smoke.
  • Analyzed pulmonary epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract in vitro.
  • Examined autophagy markers in human lung specimens from COPD patients.

Main Results:

  • Increased autophagy was observed in mouse lungs and pulmonary epithelial cells following cigarette smoke exposure.
  • Knockdown of autophagic proteins reduced apoptosis in response to cigarette smoke, linking autophagy to cell death.
  • Elevated autophagy markers were detected in human lung tissues from COPD patients.

Conclusions:

  • Increased autophagy is associated with epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke exposure.
  • Autophagy may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the homeostatic or maladaptive functions of autophagy in COPD and other lung diseases.