Autophagy in corneal health and disease: A concise review

Autophagy is a well-conserved self-eating mechanism of cell survival during periods of nutrient deprivation, stress and injury. Autophagy is implicated in many pathophysiological conditions across all organ systems. The cornea is an avascular transparent tissue that is prone to damage by trauma, injury and infection. Following insult, the cornea undergoes a complex wound healing process, which is regulated by multiple factors including autophagy. The involvement of autophagy in keratoconus and HSV-1 infection has been demonstrated, underlining the importance of this mechanism in corneal disorders. However, the role of autophagy in corneal wound repair, fibrosis and angiogenesis is still unclear. Recently, we characterized the expression of autophagy-related genes in cornea and are studying their role in the modulation of corneal conditions including fibrosis and dystrophies. Preliminary results presented within this review article support further investigation of the dynamic modulation of autophagy-related genes in corneal health and disease. This article provides an overview of how autophagy modulates corneal function.