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Autophagy-dependent cell death - where, how and why a cell eats itself to death
Shani Bialik1, Santosh K Dasari1, Adi Kimchi2
1Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Journal of Cell Science
|September 22, 2018
Summary
Autophagy-dependent cell death (ADCD) is a regulated process requiring specific autophagy machinery. This review clarifies ADCD mechanisms, distinguishing it from cell survival efforts, and highlights its role in development and disease.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Autophagy's role in cell death was proposed in 1990 but debated due to autophagosomes potentially indicating survival.
- Distinguishing cell death from survival mechanisms is crucial for understanding autophagy's function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define and validate autophagy-dependent cell death (ADCD) as a distinct regulated cell death pathway.
- To explore the mechanisms by which the autophagy pathway can mediate cell death.
- To review validated models of ADCD in various organisms.
Main Methods:
- Experimental validation requiring specific autophagy machinery components.
- Exclusion of alternative cell death pathways.
- Analysis of morphological criteria characterizing ADCD.
Main Results:
- ADCD has been experimentally validated in lower model organisms and mammalian cells.
- Autophagy can be subverted from a survival function to a death-inducing pathway.
- Specific molecular mechanisms underlying ADCD are being elucidated.
Conclusions:
- ADCD is a validated form of regulated cell death.
- Understanding ADCD mechanisms is vital for developmental biology and pathology.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate how autophagy executes cell death.
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