Mechanisms and biological functions of autophagy in diseased and ageing kidneys

Key Points Autophagy is a lysosomal-mediated process that degrades cytoplasmic components Autophagy involves the formation and degradation of double-membrane-limited vesicles called autophagosomes The main activators of autophagic flux are immune stimuli and starvation Autophagy promotes cytoprotection by inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress Autophagy is renoprotective in numerous models of acute kidney injury, glomerular disease and ageing The importance of autophagy in the pathophysiology of human renal disease remains to be determined