Highlighting roles of autophagy in human diseases: a perspective from single-cell RNA sequencing analyses.

Autophagy, the lysosome-driven breakdown of intracellular components, is pivotal in regulating eukaryotic cellular processes and maintaining homeostasis, making it physiologically important even under normal conditions. Cellular mechanisms involving autophagy include the response to nutrient deprivation, intracellular quality control, early development, and cell differentiation. Despite its established health significance, the role of autophagy in cancer and other diseases remains complex and not fully understood.