Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
09:48
In vitro Quantitative Imaging Assay for Phagocytosis of Dead Neuroblastoma Cells by iPSC-Macrophages
Published on: February 14, 2021
6.5K
Recent advances in autophagy-based neuroprotection.
Khaled Radad1, Rudolf Moldzio, Mubarak Al-Shraim
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt.
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
|January 24, 2015
Summary
Autophagy, a cellular recycling process, clears damaged components and shows promise in protecting against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Macroautophagy is a regulated intracellular process for degrading cytoplasmic components via lysosomes.
- Historically viewed as a cell death pathway, autophagy now demonstrates a crucial survival function.
- Recent evidence highlights autophagy's potential role in combating neurodegeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in induced autophagy's role in neuroprotection.
- To focus on autophagy's contribution to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific publications.
- Analysis of studies investigating autophagy induction in neurodegenerative models.
- Synthesis of findings on autophagy's mechanisms in neuroprotection.
Main Results:
- Autophagy clears protein aggregates and damaged organelles, crucial for cellular survival under stress.
- Induced autophagy demonstrates neuroprotective effects across various neurodegenerative conditions.
- Specific roles and therapeutic potential of autophagy in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases are discussed.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy induction is a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disorders.
- Further research into modulating autophagy pathways could lead to novel treatments.
- Targeting autophagy offers a potential avenue for combating diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Autophagy
6.5K
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,...
6.5K
01:18Autophagic Cell Death
5.1K
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...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
5.1K
01:36Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
10.6K
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...
10.6K
01:22Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
7
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...
7
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
2.2K
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
2.2K
01:17Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
5.7K
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...
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
5.7K