Research Progress on Autophagy Regulation by Active Ingredients of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury

Jin-yan Dong,1 Hong-Lin Yin,2 Hao Hao,3 Yang Liu3 1First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Faculty of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 3Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hao Hao; Yang Liu, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13583119291 ; +86-13864018185, Email haohao0826@163.com; 13864018185@163.comAbstract: Autophagy is a highly conserved process that maintains cell stability in eukaryotes, participates in the turnover of intracellular substances to maintain cell function, helps to resist pathogen invasion, and improves cell tolerance to environmental changes. Autophagy has been observed in many diseases, and the symptoms of these diseases are significantly improved by regulating autophagy. Autophagy is also involved in the development of lung diseases. Studies have shown that autophagy may play a beneficial or harmful role in acute lung injury (ALI), and ALI has been treated with traditional Chinese medicine designed to promote or inhibit autophagy. In this paper, the molecular mechanism and common pathways regulating autophagy and the relationship between autophagy and ALI are introduced, and the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine that improve ALI symptoms by regulating autophagy are summarized.Keywords: autophagy, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis