Mitophagy in Alzheimer′s Disease

Abstract: Mitophagy is a mechanism to selectively remove damaged mitochondria by autophagy. This process plays a critical role in maintaining the physiological function of cells. In the neurons of Alzheimer′s disease (AD) patients， with the accumulations of β-amyloid (Aβ) and microtubule associated protein (Tau)， slightly damaged mitochondria keep the stability of the internal environment by the fission and fusion process， and severely damaged mitochondria are selectively enveloped by autophagosomes and cleared by mitophagy. When the normal mitophagy process is blocked， severe dysfunctions in mitochondrial transport， dynamics may occur in neurons， leading to increased pathological changes in AD. Therefore， mitophagy plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. More and more evidences suggested that modulation of mitophagy might provide a new strategy in the treatment of AD patients.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2017.11.0019