Autophagy in Aging: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 212
Editors
Interests: molecular mechanisms of autophagy in health and diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: molecular and cell biology of cancer and microbial disease; stem cell research; micro fluidic biochip-SPR
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Macroautophagy (commonly referred to as autophagy) is an essential cellular mechanism tightly regulated by autophagy-related genes (ATGs) to maintain cellular homeostasis through the degradation and recycling of damaged proteins, excess lipids and organelles, particularly under stress conditions. With advancing age, autophagic activity declines due to the dysregulation of key signaling pathways, including mTOR, AMPK and sirtuins, as well as the dysfunction of core autophagy-related genes, leading to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, protein aggregates and oxidative damage. This impairment contributes to the development of age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders, infertility and cancer. Recent studies highlight the importance of selective autophagy, particularly mitophagy, in regulating lifespan and healthspan. Additionally, interventions such as caloric restriction and pharmacological mTOR inhibition can enhance autophagic flux and delay aging processes. This Special Issue aims to explore the molecular pathways underlying autophagy dysfunction in aging, which may offer promising targets for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Nabil Eid
Dr. Fabian Davamani Amalraj
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- autophagy
- aging
- mitophagy
- molecular mechanisms
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