Summary
Autophagy is a process of lysosomal degradation and cell protection, which is intended to eliminate damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and intracellular pathogens, making it an important process for human health. Autophagy acts as a modulator of pathogenesis and is a potential therapeutic target in various diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, or Parkinson’s. In relation to the stomatognathic system, autophagy acts as aggravating or protecting oral diseases when it is increased, activated, or altered. The deregulation of autophagy mechanisms affects the development of autoimmunity through the survival of T lymphocytes and participates in the decrease and degeneration of glandular cells and basal keratinocytes in pathologies such as Sjögren’s syndrome or oral lichen planus; It participates by modulating inflammation, but also by defending the oral cavity from the attack of external pathogens that can cause, for example, periodontal disease. This exploratory systematic review describes the general mechanisms involved in autophagy in different non-neoplastic pathologies that affect the stomatognathic system.
KEY WORDS: Autophagy; stomatognathic diseases; oral diseases.
How to cite this article
VALDÉS, C. J.; VARGAS, C. F. & SÁNCHEZ, M. R. Autophagy in the Context of the Stomatognatic System in Non-Neoplastic Diseases. A Scoping Review. Int. J. Odontostomat., 17(1):107-114, 2023.
