Autophagy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Homeostatic or pathogenic mechanism?

• Published in: Autophagy Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 235 - 237
• Main Authors: Ryter, Stefan W., Chen, Zhi-Hua, Kim, Hong-Pyo, Choi, Augustine M.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 16.02.2009
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis; Autophagy - genetics; Binding; Biology; Bioscience; Calcium; Cancer; Cell; Cycle; Homeostasis; Humans; Landes; Mice; Organogenesis; Proteins; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - pathology; Smoking

Autophagy serves a critical function in cellular homeostasis by prolonging survival during nutrient deprivation. Although primarily characterized as a cell survival mechanism, the relationship between autophagy and cell death pathways remains incompletely understood.  Autophagy has heretofore not be...