The significance of autophagy and its communication with the apoptotic machinery for cellular survival or cell death

Autophagy is a cellular proces, taht allows degradation of a portion of cytoplasm, protein aggregates or entire organelles. Major function of autophagy is the maintainance of cellular homeostasis, the protection against stress and mobilization of internal resources. However, autophagy also has a role in imunity, development and differentiation. Autophagic signaling can interact with apoptotic machinery at several levels via regulatory proteins of both pathways or via mutual degradation or cleavage of the components of both pathways. Autophagy can communicate with both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis. Under certain circumstances can autophagy by itself also induce cell death. Autophagic cell death called also programmed cell death of type II is accompanied by massive vacuolization and lysosomal autodestruction of the affected cell. Autophagic cell death was documented during Drosophila development but also in mammalian cells. Autophagy also play importamt role in tumorogenesis, where it can either protect tumor cells against various stresses or it can contribute to their death. Further research of autophagic signaling and mechanisms of communication between autophagy and apoptosis may ont only extend our knowledge on these essential processes but can also contribute to cancer therapy. Powered..