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Biochem J. 2022 Jan 14;479(1):75-90. doi: 10.1042/BCJ20210450.

The complex interplay between autophagy and cell death pathways.

The Biochemical journal

Christina Ploumi, Margarita-Elena Papandreou, Nektarios Tavernarakis

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
  2. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.

PMID: 35029627 DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20210450

Abstract

Autophagy is a universal cellular homeostatic process, required for the clearance of dysfunctional macromolecules or organelles. This self-digestion mechanism modulates cell survival, either directly by targeting cell death players, or indirectly by maintaining cellular balance and bioenergetics. Nevertheless, under acute or accumulated stress, autophagy can also contribute to promote different modes of cell death, either through highly regulated signalling events, or in a more uncontrolled inflammatory manner. Conversely, apoptotic or necroptotic factors have also been implicated in the regulation of autophagy, while specific factors regulate both processes. Here, we survey both earlier and recent findings, highlighting the intricate interaction of autophagic and cell death pathways. We, Furthermore, discuss paradigms, where this cross-talk is disrupted, in the context of disease.

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

Keywords: apoptosis; autophagic cell death; autophagy; cancer; necroptosis; neurodegeneration

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