In toxicology, autophagy can serve as both a protective mechanism and a contributor to cell damage. It is activated in response to a variety of toxic stresses, such as exposure to heavy metals, environmental pollutants, and pharmaceutical drugs. Autophagy helps cells to cope with these stresses by removing damaged organelles and proteins, thus preventing the accumulation of toxic aggregates. However, dysregulated autophagy can exacerbate cell injury and contribute to the toxicity of certain compounds.
