Autophagy in Oral Tissue Regeneration: Mechanisms, Regulation, and Therapeutic Potential

This review focuses on the contribution of autophagy to stem cell regulation and oral tissue regeneration. We discuss the role of autophagy in alleviating survival stress in oral stem cells and provide an overview of the autophagy machinery in eukaryotes. We also review how autophagy contributes to different components of oral tissue regeneration. Additionally, we introduce the molecular mechanisms involved in autophagy-regulated oral tissue regeneration and explore ways to regulate autophagy using small molecule drugs, biomaterials, exosomes/RNAs, or other specific treatments. Finally, we discuss new perspectives on autophagy manipulation and its potential impact on oral tissue regeneration. However, the precise mechanism through which autophagy contributes to oral tissue regeneration remains unclear, and further mechanistic studies are necessary for therapeutic purposes. This review aims to provide new insights into human tissue regeneration and may be beneficial for future autophagy studies on oral tissue and other types of tissue regeneration.