Abstract: Autophagy is regulated by autophagy-related genes (ATGs), so that the aged and damaged cellular substances in cells are sent to lysosomes for degradation and recycling, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease, and the ability of autophagy to selectively target intracellular pathogens for destruction is considered a key aspect of the innate immune response. Genetic studies suggest that several autophagy-related genes are clinically relevant in the pathogenesis of IBD. This article will describe the role of autophagy in IBD and the latest advances in its clinical relevance, as well as autophagy-targeted therapeutic strategies for IBD.

Key words: inflammatory bowel disease, autophagy, autophagy-related genes