RESUMO
Autophagy is a highly conserved process by which defective organelles, non-functional proteins, and intracellular microorganisms become sequestered within structures called autophagosomes, which fuse with lysosomes and the engulfed components are degraded by lysosomal enzymes. In microbial autophagy degraded peptides are used to induce antigen-specific acquired immunity. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa have developed strategies to subvert autophagy and/or to use this process to promote their replication and persistence. This review details the mechanisms by which microorganisms that infect the female genital tract and/or are detrimental to pregnancy interact with this host defence mechanism. Based on an understanding of autophagy-related pathological mechanisms, we propose new avenues for research to more effectively prevent and/or treat these infectious diseases.
Assuntos
Autofagia , Pesquisa Biomédica , Infecções do Sistema Genital/microbiologia , Candidíase/microbiologia , Infecções por Chlamydia/microbiologia , Chlamydia trachomatis , Feminino , Herpes Genital/virologia , Humanos , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/microbiologiaRESUMO
Autophagy is an intracellular molecular pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis. A role for autophagy in the development as well as in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies, while still under-investigated, is receiving increased interest. Depending on concomitant factors, autophagy can either promote or suppress development of cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer. Moreover, these cancer cells can utilize autophagy to promote its resistance to chemotherapeutic agents or, conversely, autophagy can enhance the efficacy of cytotoxic agents by promoting autophagic cell death. In this review the key autophagy-related mechanisms in development and treatment of cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer are elucidated and evaluated.