Is the Modulation of Autophagy the Future in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Title:Is the Modulation of Autophagy the Future in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Volume: 15 Issue: 21

Author(s): Rosa Ana Gonzalez-Polo, Elisa Pizarro-Estrella, Sokhna M.S. Yakhine-Diop, Mario Rodríguez-Arribas, Ruben Gomez-Sanchez, Jose M. Bravo-San Pedro and Jose M. Fuentes

Affiliation:

Keywords: Autophagy, Natural substances, Neurodegeneration, Protection.

Abstract: The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases involves altered activity of proteolytic systems and accumulation of protein aggregates. Autophagy is an intracellular process in which damaged organelles and long-lived proteins are degraded and recycled for maintaining normal cellular homeostasis. Disruption of autophagic activity in neurons leads to modify the cellular homeostasis, causing deficient elimination of abnormal and toxic protein aggregates that promotes cellular stress and death. Therefore, induction of autophagy has been proposed as a reasonable strategy to help neurons to clear abnormal protein aggregates and survive. This review aims to give an overview of some of the main modulators of autophagy that are currently being studied as possible alternatives in the search of therapies that slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, which are incurable to date.

Cite this article as:

Gonzalez-Polo Ana Rosa, Pizarro-Estrella Elisa, Yakhine-Diop M.S. Sokhna, Rodríguez-Arribas Mario, Gomez-Sanchez Ruben, Pedro Bravo-San Jose M. and Fuentes M. Jose, Is the Modulation of Autophagy the Future in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases?, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 15 (21) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026615666150610130645