Title:Autophagy and Mitochondria: Targets in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Volume: 17
Issue: 9
Author(s): Ashutosh Kumar*, Amruta Dhawan, Alknanda Kadam and Akshada Shinde
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)- Hyderabad, Balanagar,India
Keywords:
Autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, mitophagy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease.
Abstract: Background & Objective: Cellular physiology and energy metabolism are maintained by
the constant supply of energy furnished by the powerhouses of the cell called mitochondria. Cellular
homeostasis depends on the timely clearance of damaged cellular organelles and proteins via pathways
including autophagy. Mitochondria and mitochondrial autophagy play a vital role in cellular health and
failure of these pathways can have a devastating effect on cellular homeostasis. Amongst the various cell
types, neuronal cells are more vulnerable to bioenergetic depletion since most of their functions critically
depend on the availability of energy derived from mitochondrial metabolism, thus making neurodegenerative
disorders an obstinate issue. Research in the past few decades has shown that these neurodegenerative
disorders are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and compromised mitophagy leading to
accumulation of protein aggregates which ultimately culminate in neurodegeneration.
Conclusion: Thus, targeting mitochondria and autophagy-related proteins and enzymes in neurodegenerative
disorders may open the avenues for potential targets for discovering effective therapies.
Here, we review the involvement of mitochondrial and autophagy dysfunction in neurodegenerative
disorders specifically focusing on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease.
