Autophagy, a Critical Element in the Aging Male Reproductive Disorders and Prostate Cancer: A Therapeutic Point of View Publisher Pubmed



Raee P¹ ; Tan SC² ; Najafi S³ ; Zandsalimi F⁴ ; Low TY² ; Aghamiri S^{5, 6} ; Fazeli E⁷ ; Aghapour M⁸ ; Mofarahe ZS⁹ ; Heidari MH⁹ ; Fathabadi FF⁹ ; Abdi F¹⁰ ; Asouri M¹¹ ; Ahmadi AA¹¹ Show All Authors
Source: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology Published:2023

Abstract

Autophagy is a highly conserved, lysosome-dependent biological mechanism involved in the degradation and recycling of cellular components. There is growing evidence that autophagy is related to male reproductive biology, particularly spermatogenic and endocrinologic processes closely associated with male sexual and reproductive health. In recent decades, problems such as decreasing sperm count, erectile dysfunction, and infertility have worsened. In addition, reproductive health is closely related to overall health and comorbidity in aging men. In this review, we will outline the role of autophagy as a new player in aging male reproductive dysfunction and prostate cancer. We first provide an overview of the mechanisms of autophagy and its role in regulating male reproductive cells. We then focus on the link between autophagy and aging-related diseases. This is followed by a discussion of therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy before we end with limitations of current studies and suggestions for future developments in the field. © 2023, BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.