Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, Division of Endocrinology IRCCS, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2021 Jun;22(2):147-160. doi: 10.1007/s11154-021-09649-x. Epub 2021 Apr 5.
Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved process for the self-degradation and recycling of cellular components in the cytoplasm. It is involved in both physiological and pathological conditions. In detail, the term "autophagy" refers to intracellular degradative pathways that lead to packaging and deliver of cellular components to lysosomes or to plant and yeast vacuoles. Autophagy is triggered by a variety of stimuli like nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and is regulated by immune- and hormonal factors. The role of autophagy in tumor cells is complex. Indeed, autophagy may act as a tumor suppressor as well as a tumor survival factor, in a context-dependent manner. The research into autophagy in normal pituitary and pituitary tumors has not gained great consideration, yet. Nevertheless, some recent articles joint to previous case studies, suggest that this process plays a role in the modulation and fluctuation of normal pituitary cell functions and in the response of pituitary tumor cells to drug therapy, including the response to somatostatin receptor ligand (SRLs), the first-line medical therapy of acromegaly. Although it is not possible to draw any conclusion, the aim of this review was to highlight some considerations and perspectives in this research field. Reports on the effects of octreotide on autophagy induction and autophagic flux in extra-pituitary target tissues, have also been discussed.
自噬是一种在细胞质中自我降解和回收细胞成分的进化保守过程。它涉及生理和病理条件。具体来说，“自噬”一词是指导致细胞成分包装并递送至溶酶体或植物和酵母液泡的细胞内降解途径。自噬由多种刺激物触发，如营养缺乏、缺氧、线粒体功能障碍、内质网应激，并受免疫和激素因素的调节。自噬在肿瘤细胞中的作用是复杂的。事实上，自噬可以作为肿瘤抑制因子和肿瘤生存因子，这取决于具体情况。对正常垂体和垂体肿瘤中自噬的研究尚未得到充分关注。然而，一些最近的文章结合以前的病例研究表明，这个过程在调节和波动正常垂体细胞功能以及垂体肿瘤细胞对药物治疗的反应中发挥作用，包括对生长抑素受体配体（SRLs）的反应，这是肢端肥大症的一线治疗方法。虽然不可能得出任何结论，但本综述的目的是强调该研究领域的一些考虑和观点。还讨论了奥曲肽对 extrasomatic 靶组织中自噬诱导和自噬流的影响的报告。
