Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
11:39
Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 21, 2017
Why should autophagic flux be assessed?
Xiao-jie Zhang1, Sheng Chen, Kai-xing Huang
1Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
|March 12, 2013
Summary
Autophagy, a key cell process, can malfunction in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. This review covers autophagic flux defects and monitoring methods for developing new therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Autophagy is crucial for cell growth, survival, development, and death.
- Impaired autophagic flux is implicated in neurodegeneration, cancer, myopathy, cardiovascular, and immune disorders.
- Accurate assessment of autophagy is challenging due to its complex, dynamic nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review autophagic flux defects in various human diseases.
- To update current methodologies for monitoring autophagic flux.
- To highlight the importance of understanding autophagic flux for therapeutic development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on autophagic flux.
- Analysis of established and emerging methods for assessing autophagic flux.
- Synthesis of information on the role of autophagy in human pathologies.
Main Results:
- Defects in autophagic flux are common across a spectrum of human diseases.
- Current methods for monitoring autophagic flux have limitations.
- Emerging techniques offer improved accuracy in assessing autophagic flux status.
Conclusions:
- Understanding autophagic flux defects is critical for disease diagnosis and treatment.
- Accurate monitoring of autophagic flux is essential for developing effective autophagy-related therapeutics.
- Further research into autophagy mechanisms and monitoring tools will advance disease treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Autophagy
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,...
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
01:18Autophagic 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...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
01:36Delivery 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...
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...