Pathobiology 2027

Autophagy is a catabolic process that results in clearance of abnormal or damaged proteins and organelles that would otherwise accumulate and lead to cellular stress. In the liver, autophagy also plays an important role in maintaining cellular and metabolic homeostasis by providing nutrients for energy production. Dysregulated autophagy can lead to liver diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, cholestasis, and cancer. This session will explore the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy, and also discuss how dysregulated hepatic autophagy exacerbates disease. Therapeutic implications of modulating autophagy in liver disease will also be discussed.