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siRNA Electroporation to Modulate Autophagy in Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells
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Pharmacological modulation of autophagy: therapeutic potential and persisting obstacles

Lorenzo Galluzzi1,2, José Manuel Bravo-San Pedro2,3,4,5,6, Beth Levine7,8

  • 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA.

Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery
|May 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Autophagy, a key cellular process, is implicated in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration. While autophagy modulators show therapeutic promise, clinical development faces hurdles that this review addresses.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Autophagy is crucial for maintaining organismal homeostasis.
  • Dysfunctional autophagy is linked to diverse pathologies, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiac disorders.
  • Targeting autophagy for novel therapeutics has gained significant attention over the past decade.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the therapeutic potential of autophagy modulators.
  • To analyze the obstacles hindering the clinical development of autophagy-targeting therapies.
  • To propose strategies for advancing autophagy modulation in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of autophagy modulation strategies.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data and preclinical research.
  • Discussion of challenges and future directions in the field.

Main Results:

  • Autophagy modulators hold significant therapeutic promise but have not yet yielded clinically viable interventions.
  • Several obstacles impede the translation of autophagy-targeting drugs into effective treatments.
  • Specific strategies are proposed to overcome these developmental barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Overcoming current limitations is essential to harness the full therapeutic potential of autophagy modulation.
  • Further research and strategic development are needed to translate autophagy-based therapies into clinical practice.
  • Targeted modulation of autophagy offers a promising avenue for treating various diseases.

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