Autophagy: An evolutionarily conserved process in the maintenance of stem cells and aging

Abstract

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that degrades and recycles defective organelles, toxic proteins, and various other aggregates on the cytoplasmic surface by sequestering them into autophagosomes which, then, fuse with lysosomes which degrade them. If these aggregates are not cleared, they accumulate and damage the cell resulting in cellular senescence and aging. Stem cells, with their capacity to differentiate, are crucial for tissue homeostasis. In addition to differentiation, the stemness of stem cells must be preserved. Recent studies in stem cells show the importance of autophagy in evading cellular senescence. In this review, we describe the conservative nature of the autophagy process, carried out throughout evolution. In particular, we highlight the role of autophagy in various evolutionarily diverse species and how it evolved to maintain tissue homeostasis and regulate aging and cellular senescence in stem cells.

circRNAs expressed in human peripheral blood are associated with human aging phenotypes, cellular senescence and mouse lifespan

“…Inhibition of EP300 has been shown to mimic calorific restriction in human and mouse cells (Pietrocola et al 2018); calorific restriction is of course a well-known modifier of lifespan in many species (Austad 1989;Hansen et al 2008;Kapahi et al 2004;Mitchell et al 2010). This protein is also a master regulator of autophagy, which is a pivotal factor in stem cell maintenance and evasion of cellular senescence (Vijayakumar and Cho 2019). circFNDC3B was positively associated with hand grip strength.…”

Dissecting molecular mechanisms underlying H2O2-induced apoptosis of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell: role of Mst1 inhibition

“…Autophagy is an evolutionary process that recycles cellular components and damaged organelles in response to oxidative stress. In this process, autophagy, in turn, may contribute to reduce oxidative damages by removing ROS byproduct [13] and has a prosurvival role in stem cells, the downregulation of which results in rapid cell death [14]. To date, no study has identified the role of Mst1 in oxidative stressinduced cell apoptosis in MSCs.…”

Dissecting Molecular Mechanisms Underlying H2O2-induced Apoptosis of Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell: Role of Mst1 Inhibition.

“…Mst1 was recently found to act as a switch that simultaneously regulates apoptosis and autophagy in cardiomyocytes [10,11]. Autophagy is an evolutionary process that balances the redox state by scavenging excess intracellular ROS [12] and has a prosurvival role in stem cells, the downregulation of which results in rapid cell death [13]. To date, no study has identi ed the role of [14].…”