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Based on the cooperation between select proteins in targeting and activation of selective autophagy, protecting cells from lysosomal damage and microbial invasion.
About
Background Autophagy is a key intracellular quality control processes in eukaryotes with multiple roles in development, normal physiology, and disease. The autophagy pathway governed by ATG factors is primarily known for its degradative cytoplasmic functions. It maintains cellular energy and nutrient supplies during starvation or absence of growth factors, controls organellar quality and quantity in the cell, prevents accumulation of large protein aggregates, and possesses antimicrobial and other immune functions. Autophagy’s potential for secretion has also been considered of particular interest in the context of extracellular immune signaling. Although autophagy is primarily known as a tributary to the degradative lysosomal pathway, functionally different terminations have been considered for autophagocytosed cytosolic material, leading to secretion of cytokines or small molecular weight immune mediators. Secretory autophagy represents an alternative termination of the autophagosomal pathway enabling a range of leaderless cytosolic proteins to express their extracellular activities of importance in health homeostasis and disease states. Description A researcher from University of New Mexico has developed new methods of influencing autophagy to treat various diseases, based on the cooperation between select proteins in targeting and activation of selective autophagy, protecting cells from lysosomal damage and microbial invasion. Advantages Systems to control autophagic responses to endomembrane damage which is of significance in cancer and infectious diseases Protects cells against endomembrane damage Allows for a novel treatment of many chronic and difficult to treat conditions including; mycobacterium infection, lysosomal storage disorder, immune disorders such as HIV/AID, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, various, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, COPD, CF, hyperglycemia, diabetes, renal disease, liver disease and cardiovascular disease