Lysosomal homeostasis at the crossroads of neurodegeneration.
This review synthesizes evidence that hierarchical lysosomal repair pathways—ESCRT-mediated membrane resealing, lipid-centered recovery, lysophagy, and TFEB-driven lysosomal renewal—are central to neuronal resilience and are impaired in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
What the AI sees
This review synthesizes evidence that hierarchical lysosomal repair pathways—ESCRT-mediated membrane resealing, lipid-centered recovery, lysophagy, and TFEB-driven lysosomal renewal—are central to neuronal resilience and are impaired in Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Research significance
By mapping specific, druggable nodes (ESCRT machinery, lipid transport/repair modules, lysophagy regulators, and TFEB transcriptional control) the paper highlights actionable targets and biomarker opportunities for therapies aimed at restoring lysosomal integrity to prevent neuronal loss in…
Source abstract
Lysosomes function as metabolic control centers that integrate degradation, nutrient sensing, and stress signaling. In neurons, which must maintain proteostasis and energetic balance throughout life, lysosomal homeostasis determines cellular resilience. Emerging evidence identifies lysosomal injury and defective repair as common denominators across neurodegenerative diseases. Damage to the lysosomal membrane caused by oxidative stress, lipid imbalance, or genetic mutations triggers a hierarchical quality control cascade. Early lesions recruit the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery for mechanical resealing, while larger ruptures activate lipid-centered recovery modules. When repair fails, lysophagy eliminates irreparable organelles and a TFEB-dependent transcriptional program regenerates the lysosomal pool. These tightly coupled responses safeguard neurons from catastrophic proteostatic collapse. Their impairment, through mutations in lysosomal proteins, or through aging, produces the lysosomal fragility that underlies Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia, and Huntington disease. Crosstalk between lysosomes, mitochondria, and ER integrates local damage with systemic metabolic adaptation, while dysregulated lysosomal exocytosis and inflammation propagate pathology. Understanding how ESCRT complexes, lipid transport, and transcriptional renewal cooperate to preserve lysosomal integrity reveals unifying principles of neurodegeneration and defines molecular targets for intervention. Restoring lysosomal repair and renewal offers a rational path toward preventing neuronal loss.