Figure 1.

Simplified conceptual mechanistic model showing the interactions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with cellular components, lysosomal and autophagic processes, that can lead to oxidative stress, cell injury, and pathology. It is hypothesized that repeated stimulation of augmented autophagy (large red arrow circled) by various environmental factors such as fasting and exercise, or low concentrations of toxic chemicals that induce mild stress, will result in a more effective recycling of damaged cellular proteins and organelles; and before major oxidative damage occurs. This will consequently reduce lipofuscin formation that will otherwise accelerate ROS generation and cell injury and thus protect the cell from further oxidative injury. See more detailed diagram in Moore et al.¹⁰