Recovery from critical illness-induced organ failure: the role of autophagy
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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

In Situ Immunofluorescent Staining of Autophagy in Muscle Stem Cells
Published on: June 12, 2017
1Clinical Division and Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven University and Hospital, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. jan.gunst@kuleuven.be.
Abstract:
Autophagy is a catabolic process by which cells can dispose of damaged content and intracellular microorganisms. Recent evidence implicates autophagy as a crucial repair process necessary to recover from critical illness-induced organ failure. Withholding parenteral nutrition in the acute phase of critical illness activates autophagy and enhances recovery. Several registered drugs have autophagy-stimulating properties, but all lack specificity and none has been investigated in critically ill patients for this purpose.
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