[Autophagy and ageing].

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system via lysosomes that suppresses accumu- lation of abnormal proteins and organelles and maintains cellular homeostasis. Genetic in- hibition of autophagy in mice leads to a variety of ageing-related diseases including neuro- degenerative diseases, and dysfunctional autophagy has been reported in physiologically aged cells and tissues. Autophagy is activated in several long-lived model organisms and contrib- utes to their longevity. This evidence suggests that autophagy has potent anti-ageing prop- erties. Here we review the current progress in understanding the mechanism and function of autophagy, and outline recent developments in support of connections between autophagy and anti-ageing.