Internal medicine

Autophagy

Pathogenesis

Obesity

Bioinformatics

Biology

Apoptosis

Adipose tissue

Insulin resistance

Inflammation

Kidney

Kidney disease

Biochemistry

Medicine

Seminars in Nephrology

Obesity is a growing human health concern worldwide and imposes adverse effects on many cell types and organ systems, including the kidneys. Obesity interferes with various cellular processes by increasing lipid accumulation and oxidation, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Autophagy is an important cellular process to maintain hemostasis and preserve resources, but might be altered in obesity. Interestingly, experimental studies have shown either an increase or a decrease in the rate of autophagy, and accumulation of byproducts and mediators of this cascade in kidneys of obese individuals.

Renal Cellular Autophagy in Obesity: Boon or Bane?