TY - JOUR
T1 - The roles of autophagy and mitophagy in corneal pathology
T2 - current knowledge and future perspectives
AU - Ayilam Ramachandran, Rajalakshmy
AU - Sanches, Jose Marcos
AU - Robertson, Danielle M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Ayilam Ramachandran, Sanches and Robertson.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The cornea is the clear dome that covers the front portion of the globe. The primary functions of the cornea are to promote the refraction of light and to protect the eye from invading pathogens, both of which are essential for the preservation of vision. Homeostasis of each cellular layer of the cornea requires the orchestration of multiple processes, including the ability to respond to stress. One mechanism whereby cells respond to stress is autophagy, or the process of “self-eating.” Autophagy functions to clear damaged proteins and organelles. During nutrient deprivation, amino acids released from protein breakdown via autophagy are used as a fuel source. Mitophagy, a selective form of autophagy, functions to clear damaged mitochondria. Thus, autophagy and mitophagy are important intracellular degradative processes that sustain tissue homeostasis. Importantly, the inhibition or excessive activation of these processes result in deleterious effects on the cell. In the eye, impairment or inhibition of these mechanisms have been associated with corneal disease, degenerations, and dystrophies. This review summarizes the current body of knowledge on autophagy and mitophagy at all layers in the cornea in both non-infectious and infectious corneal disease, dystrophies, and degenerations. It further highlights the critical gaps in our understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction, with implications for novel therapeutics in clinical practice.
AB - The cornea is the clear dome that covers the front portion of the globe. The primary functions of the cornea are to promote the refraction of light and to protect the eye from invading pathogens, both of which are essential for the preservation of vision. Homeostasis of each cellular layer of the cornea requires the orchestration of multiple processes, including the ability to respond to stress. One mechanism whereby cells respond to stress is autophagy, or the process of “self-eating.” Autophagy functions to clear damaged proteins and organelles. During nutrient deprivation, amino acids released from protein breakdown via autophagy are used as a fuel source. Mitophagy, a selective form of autophagy, functions to clear damaged mitochondria. Thus, autophagy and mitophagy are important intracellular degradative processes that sustain tissue homeostasis. Importantly, the inhibition or excessive activation of these processes result in deleterious effects on the cell. In the eye, impairment or inhibition of these mechanisms have been associated with corneal disease, degenerations, and dystrophies. This review summarizes the current body of knowledge on autophagy and mitophagy at all layers in the cornea in both non-infectious and infectious corneal disease, dystrophies, and degenerations. It further highlights the critical gaps in our understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction, with implications for novel therapeutics in clinical practice.
KW - autophagy
KW - cornea
KW - endothelium
KW - epithelium
KW - mitochondria
KW - mitophagy
KW - stroma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85158136083&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85158136083&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fmed.2023.1064938
DO - 10.3389/fmed.2023.1064938
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37153108
AN - SCOPUS:85158136083
SN - 2296-858X
VL - 10
JO - Frontiers in Medicine
JF - Frontiers in Medicine
M1 - 1064938
ER -