Autophagy as a physiological response of the body to starvation

Macroautophagy is a cellular degradation pathway that deliver cytoplasmic components such as damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and pathogens to the lysosomes for degradation. Autophagy is associated with the survival of the cell under stress conditions and infections. Nutrient deprivation is one of the main inducers of autophagy, which recycles cytoplasmic components to provide building blocks required for cell survival and maintains cellular homeostasis. Due to its cytoprotective effects, autophagic responses are necessary in resisting diseases and ensuring health. Understanding the regulation of autophagic responses in mammalian cells is required to improve human health through innovations in treatment strategies. This chapter focuses on recent findings about autophagy mechanisms and their role in the body’s response to starvation as well as the current knowledge of autophagy-related malnutrition disorders.