Malene Hansen (Buck Institute for Research on Aging, US)

Regulation of autophagy in aging and disease

The cytosolic recycling process of autophagy plays an important role in many age-related diseases and has been directly linked to aging, including in the nematode C. elegans where autophagy appears beneficially induced in many conserved longevity models. As a critical process to ensure cellular homeostasis, autophagy is regulated at multiple levels, yet it remains a challenge in the field to understand how the regulation of autophagy is integrated at the cellular and molecular level to ensure health- and lifespan benefits. I will here discuss our progress on understanding the different molecular mechanisms employed by cells and organisms to regulate autophagy genes in response to stressors such as aging and disease.

 

Rajat Singh (University of California, US)

TBA

Tassula Proikas-Cezanne (University of Tuebingen, DE)

TBA

Alexandra Stolz (University Hospital Frankfurt/ Goethe University, DE)

Knocking at the Door of ER-phagy: Regulation at the Plasma Membrane

This talk will explore how ER-phagy can be regulated from the plasma membrane through signaling cascades that connect extracellular and organismal cues to intracellular homeostasis. 

(Evandro) Fei Fang-Stavem (University of Oslo, NO)

Fine-tuning mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in promoting brain health and healthy longevity – from bench-top to bedside

Why we age and how could we age successfully? To address these questions, we need to understand the sophisticated and multi-layered nature of biological ageing. We propose compromised autophagy is an independent hallmark of ageing and this is accepted in the society. In this lecture, I will share with you the mechanisms of autophagy and the linkages of compromised autophagy (especially mitophagy) to ageing and different diseases with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases. Publicly accessible approaches (such as calorie restriction and exercise) and small natural molecules (such as NAD+ precursors, urolithin A affluent in pomegranates, and a small molecule EFF-AA from passion fruit) hold promise to slow down ageing and dementia, likely at least partially via mitophagy induction. We are involved in 5 NAD+-based clinical trials including in treating premature ageing diseases, Long-COVID, and brain diseases, and have identified autophagy proteins and NAD+ pathway intermediates as biomarkers of disease progression. We are excited in running a Phase II clinical trial looking into the potential benefits of urolithin A for AD patients. Future perspectives and challenges on autophagy- and NAD+-related strategies will be discussed.