Abstract: Methods for modulating lysosome-mediated microautophagy of a lipid or protein substrate in a cell are provided herein. In certain embodiments, said methods may comprise increasing lysosome-mediated microautophagy by treating the cell with a microautophagy-enhancing agent which increases lysosomal association-dissociation events between lysosomes and the cellular lipid or protein substrate and/or increases lysosomal degradation capacity; or decreasing lysosome-mediated microautophagy by treating the cell with a microautophagy-reducing agent which reduces lysosomal association-dissociation events between lysosomes and the cellular lipid or protein substrate and/or decreases lysosomal degradation capacity; thereby modulating lysosome-mediated microautophagy of the lipid or protein substrate.

Abstract: Methods for modulating lysosome-mediated microautophagy of a lipid or protein substrate in a cell are provided herein. In certain embodiments, said methods may comprise increasing lysosome-mediated microautophagy by treating the cell with a microautophagy-enhancing agent which increases lysosomal association-dissociation events between lysosomes and the cellular lipid or protein substrate and/or increases lysosomal degradation capacity; or decreasing lysosome-mediated microautophagy by treating the cell with a microautophagy-reducing agent which reduces lysosomal association-dissociation events between lysosomes and the cellular lipid or protein substrate and/or decreases lysosomal degradation capacity; thereby modulating lysosome-mediated microautophagy of the lipid or protein substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides uses of autophagocytosis inducing compounds for reducing serum levels of triglycerides and VLDL and the preparation of medicaments. The invention also provides the use of autophagocytosis inducing compounds for treating hypertriglyceridemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or diabetes, insulin resistance, hemodialysis, glycogen storage disease type I, polycystic ovary syndrome, combination thereof. The invention further provides methods of identifying compounds which modulate autophagocytosis.