The change and function of autophagy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Autophagy is a pathway of degradation dependent on lysosome. A number of studies reported autophagy was involved in the occurrence and development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Autophagy is enhanced in the early stage of NAFLD, and can delay the progress of NAFLD by inhibiting the " secondary stroke" which can induce NAFLD. In the late stage of NAFLD, degradation of autophagy related gene (Atg)7, activation of excessive mammalian rapamycin target protein pathway, hyperinsulinemia, dysfunction of autophagy-lysosome membrane protein hydrolysis, change of lipid composition in autophagosome and lysosome membrane, increase of calcium in the hepatocyte can inhibit autophagy, thus aggravate NAFLD. Key words: Autophagy; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Mammalian rapamycin target protein