| Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a common clinical disease which threatens the improvement of quality of life in majority of elderly females. Current research shows that autophagy plays an important role in the occurrence and development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The activation of autophagy changes under the impact of factors such as senility, estrogen deficiency, oxidative stress, etc., and could disturb bone homeostasis and metabolism which leads to osteoporosis. Autophagy takes part in the process of bone formation and bone resorption, and also plays an important role in cells’ multiplication, differentiation, apoptosis, homeostasis, etc. In recent years, significant progress has been made on research related to the regulatory pathway of autophagy activation and its function in cells. After reviewed a number of domestic and foreign literatures, this article summarizes the impact of autophagy on the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis as well as the relationship between autophagy and bone formation and bone resorption. |