Autophagy in tooth: Physiology, disease and therapeutic implication
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Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Establishing Organoids from Human Tooth as a Powerful Tool Toward Mechanistic Research and Regenerative Therapy
Published on: April 13, 2022
Shengyan Yang1,2, Wenguo Fan2, Yaoyin Li1,2
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process, in which damaged organelles and proteins are engulfed in autophagic vesicles and subsequently fuse with lysosomes for degradation. Autophagy is widely involved in different physiologic or pathologic processes in human. Accumulating evidence indicates that autophagy operates as a critical quality control mechanism to maintain pulp homeostasis and structural integrity of the dentin-pulp complex. Autophagy is activated during stresses and is involved in the pathogenesis of pulpitis and periapical infection. Recent discoveries have also provided intriguing insights into the roles of autophagy in tooth development, pulp aging and stress adaptation. In this review, we provide an update on the multifaceted functions of autophagy in physiology and pathophysiology of tooth. We also discuss the therapeutic implications of autophagy modulation in diseases and the regeneration of dentin-pulp complex.
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