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

This review focuses on the role of autophagy in regulating stem cells and promoting tissue regeneration in the oral cavity. We discuss how autophagy helps oral stem cells cope with survival stress and provide an overview of the autophagy machinery in eukaryotic cells. We also examine how autophagy contributes to different aspects of oral tissue regeneration and explore the molecular mechanisms involved. Additionally, we review different approaches to regulating autophagy, including small molecule drugs, biomaterials, exosomes/RNAs, and other specific treatments. Finally, we discuss new perspectives on autophagy manipulation and its potential applications in tissue regeneration. Despite significant progress in this field, the exact mechanism underlying autophagy's contribution to oral tissue regeneration remains unclear, and further mechanistic studies are needed for therapeutic purposes. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into human tissue regeneration and may pave the way for future research on autophagy and tissue regeneration in various contexts, including oral tissue.