Mechanisms of autophagy–lysosome pathway impairment in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The autophagy–lysosomal pathway is key for the removal of harmful substances in cells. This article integrates evidence that highlights the role of lysosomal function and the autophagy–lysosomal pathway in maintaining intracellular homeostasis and the effects of their dysfunction on protein secretion and metabolic disorders, leading to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tau diseases. Dysfunction of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway is believed to be the main factor leading to the accumulation of amyloid-β and tau proteins, which are also pathological features of AD. This article also discusses why autophagy is indispensable in the early to mature stages of neuronal development and how damage to the function of autophagy can cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities and neurodegenerative diseases. We also summarized the potential role of oligodendrocytes. We believe that its relationship with lysosomes can provide a new perspective and research direction for future research on neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy-lysosomal pathway damage is considered to be a key factor in the pathology and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, but we believe that the challenge associated with its transformation into clinical treatment is enormous. These findings suggest that enhancing or improving autophagy function may be an effective treatment method to alleviate the condition of AD patients, which can provide new strategies for clinical treatment and intervention of AD in the future.