Autophagy and Glomerular Diseases

Autophagy is an endogenous and essential process which maintains cellular homeostasis and directs cell fate. The glomerular diseases are one main part of the kidney diseases, often associated with poor clinical outcomes. The regulation of autophagy contributes to the progression of various glomerular diseases, including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, lupus nephritis, and so on. For example, it has been demonstrated that prevention of autophagic flux in the kidney epithelium and podocytes is sufficient to trigger a degenerative disease of the kidney with many of the manifestations of human FSGS. We review the roles of autophagy in glomerular diseases. Therapies in clinical use, and in preclinical or clinical development, are also discussed in relation to their effects on autophagy in glomerular diseases.