Autophagy regulation in teleost fish: A double-edged sword

In the last two decades, autophagy has attracted considerable attention as a conserved cellular self-digestion process that is essential for cells to maintain metabolism and energy homeostasis. Autophagy regulation is related to many basic physiological functions during individual growth and development. Accordingly, alterations in autophagy are also closely linked to the occurrence and development of various clinical diseases, such as neurodegeneration, heart disease, and cancer. Therefore, autophagy is being extensively investigated as a therapeutic target for the treatment of related diseases. In contrast to mammals, little attention has been given to the role and mechanism of autophagy in teleost species. In this review, after a brief description of the main information known about autophagy, we review current knowledge regarding autophagy in teleost fish, with particular attention to its physiological and pathological regulation in reproduction, hepatic metabolism, skeletal muscle, bacterial infection, viral infection, and other processes. Herein, we also explore the options available for domestication, farming or therapeutic strategies targeting the autophagy process in teleosts. A better understanding of the functions and mechanisms of autophagy in teleosts’ physiological and pathological processes will improve teleost growth, development, and health under various endogenous and exogenous stress responses.