自噬(autophagy)是真核细胞中细胞器以及蛋白质等物质降解的主要过程,在维持体内平衡的过程中起到重要作用。人眼晶状体是一个由上皮细胞以及其分化而来的纤维细胞共同组成的无血管透明器官,晶状体细胞主要通过自噬途径来降解细胞器以及异常聚集的蛋白质以维持晶状体的透明。自噬功能的异常与白内障的发生发展密切相关。本文就自噬相关内容进行介绍,并概括总结了近年来细胞自噬在白内障形成过程中的研究进展。
Autophagy,the main degradation process of organelles,protein and other substances in the eukaryotic cells,plays an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis.Lens is a transparent tissue without vessel,which is mainly composed of a layer of epithelium cells and differentiating fiber cells.To maintain the transparency of lens,lenticular cells degrade their organelles and abnormal aggregated protein through autophagy.Abnormal function of autophagy is closely related to the formation of cataract.This article is aimed to introduce the related knowledge of autophagy and summarize the research progress of autuphagy in the procedure of cataract formation.