Autophagy: Eating Myself as a Requirement for the Skin Health

Abstract

Cells recycle their components during starvation through aprocess called autophagy. It is a normal cellular mechanism related tophysiological actions such as nutrient and energy metabolism.In the skin as in other organs, one normal function of autophagyis related to the immune system as the control of mycotic, bacterialand viral infections. Genetic alterations cause amino acid substitutionsin proteins, when it?s involved to autophagy compounds, results inalterations of the defense mechanisms of the host. They have beenrecently involved in the pathogenesis of immunological disorderssuch as systemic lupus erythematosus, vitiligo and oral lichen planus.Furthermore, alterations in autophagy process induce a moreaggressive behavior and reduced life expectancy in squamouscell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The aim of this review isdescribe the molecular process of autophagy and how alterations ofcomponents of this process are linked to the development of diversesskin pathologies.The understanding of molecular mechanisms involved inautophagy promises new diagnostic and treatment perspectives,mainly in autoimmune diseases and skin cancer.