The role of autophagy in bone homeostasis

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved intracellular process and is considered one of the main catabolism pathways. In the process of autophagy, cells are digested nonselectively or selectively to recover nutrients and energy, so it is regarded as an antiaging process. In addition to the essential role of autophagy in cellular homeostasis, autophagy is a stress response mechanism for cell survival. Here, we review recent literature describing the pathway of autophagy and its role in different bone cell types, including osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes. Also discussed is the mechanism of autophagy in bone diseases associated with bone homeostasis, including osteoporosis and Paget's disease. Finally, we discuss the application of autophagy regulators in bone diseases. This review aims to introduce autophagy, summarize the understanding of its relevance in bone physiology, and discuss its role and therapeutic potential in the pathogenesis of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.