Autophagy in the pathomechanism of skin diseases

Abstract

Autophagy is a physiological cellular degradation process responsible for the breakdown of damaged, dysfunctional cell organelles and protein aggregates, which is essential for physiological cellular function, growth and development. The aim of this publication is to explain the role of autophagy and its processes in the pathomechanism of certain skin diseases, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, hyperpigmentation, systemic lupus erythematosus, skin tumors, melanoma, and infectious skin diseases- and drawing attention to new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.