Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (24): 2275-2283.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.24.007

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Autophagy and neurodegenerative disorders

Evangelia Kesidou1, Roza Lagoudaki1, Olga Touloumi1, Kyriaki-Nefeli Poulatsidou1, Constantina Simeonidou2   

  1. 1 Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology, Second Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
    2 Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
  • Received:2013-03-15 Revised:2013-06-25 Online:2013-08-25 Published:2013-08-25
  • Contact: Constantina Simeonidou, M.D., Ph.D., Associate professor of physiology, Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece, symeon@med.auth.gr.
  • About author:Evangelia Kesidou, M.Sc., Biologist.

PDF

2604

Abstract:

Accumulation of aberrant proteins and inclusion bodies are hallmarks in most neurodegenerative diseases. Consequently, these aggregates within neurons lead to toxic effects, overproduction of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Autophagy is a significant intracellular mechanism that removes damaged organelles and misfolded proteins in order to maintain cell homeostasis. Excessive or insufficient autophagic activity in neurons leads to altered homeostasis and influences their survival rate, causing neurodegeneration. The review article provides an update of the role of autophagic process in representative chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders.

Key words: neural regeneration, reviews, oxidative stress, autophagy, autophagy-related genes, apoptosis, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, acute and chronic neurodegeneration, neuroregeneration