Autophagy in cerebral ischemia and the effects of traditional Chinese medicine

• Published in: Journal of integrative medicine Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 289 - 296
• Main Authors: Huang, Xiao-ping, Ding, Huang, Lu, Jin-dong, Tang, Ying-hong, Deng, Bing-xiang, Deng, Chang-qing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Autophagy; brain ischemia; Brain Ischemia - pathology; drugs, Chinese herbal; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; medicine, traditional Chinese; Reperfusion Injury - therapy; review; 中药; 心脑血管疾病; 活性物质; 神经退行性疾病; 细胞成分; 肿瘤细胞; 脑缺血; 自噬; drugs, Chinese herbal; autophagy; brain ischemia; review; medicine, traditional Chinese
• ISSN: 2095-4964
• DOI: 10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60187-X

Autophagy is a lysosome-mediated degradation process for non-essential or damaged cellular constituents, playing an important homeostatic role in cell survival, differentiation and development to maintain homeostasis. Autophagy is involved in tumors as well as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Recently, active compounds from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have been found to modulate the levels of autophagy in tumor cells, nerve cells, myocardial cells and endothelial cells. Ischemic stroke is a major cause of neurological disability and places a heavy burden on family and society. Regaining function can significantly reduce dependence and improve the quality of life of stroke survivors. In healthy cells, autophagy plays a key role in adapting to nutritional deprivation and eliminating aggregated proteins, however inappropriate activation of autophagy may lead to cell death in cerebral ischemia. This paper reviews the process and the molecular basis of autophagy, as well as its roles in cerebral ischemia and the roles of TCM in modulating its activity.