Autophagy is one of several hepatic metabolic processes in which starved cells are supplied with glucose, free fatty acids, and amino acids to produce energy and synthesize new macromolecules. Moreover, it regulates the quantity and quality of mitochondria and other organelles. As the liver is a vital metabolic organ, specific forms of autophagy are necessary for maintaining liver homeostasis. Protein, fat, and sugar are the three primary nutrients that can be altered by different metabolic liver diseases. Drugs that have an effect on autophagy can either promote or inhibit autophagy, and as a result, it can either increase or inhibit the three major nutritional metabolisms that are affected by liver disease. Thus, this opens up a novel therapeutic option for liver disease.
细胞自噬参与到多种肝脏代谢中，为饥饿的细胞提供氨基酸、游离脂肪酸和葡萄糖，用于新的大分子的能源生产和合成，同时自噬还控制着线粒体等细胞器的质量和数量。肝脏作为机体重要的代谢器官，细胞自噬的多种特异性变异是维持肝脏稳态的关键，不同的肝脏疾病会引起蛋白质、脂肪、糖三大营养物质的代谢变化。调节细胞自噬的药物，可以通过增强或者减少细胞自噬，从而使肝脏疾病时三大营养物质的代谢增强或减弱，为肝脏疾病的治疗开创新的途径。.
Keywords: Cell autophagy; Liver disease; Metabolic regulation.