Dysregulated autophagy in endometriosis: molecular mechanisms, controversies, and clinical implications

Abstract

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in women and is still one of the most understudied diseases, affecting the daily lives of patients. Although the exact cause of this condition remains unclear, autophagy has been proposed as a potential biological process involved in the disease. Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process crucial for the degradation of lysosomes and several cellular components. In recent years, various studies have shown that this biological process could be crucial in endometriosis, with some evidence demonstrating its upregulation and others its downregulation in different study models. Due to this controversy and the potential implications of autophagy as a therapeutic target, this current review highlights significant findings on the involvement of autophagy in endometriosis and explores its potential as a therapeutic target.