Lung autophagic response following exposure of mice to whole body irradiation, with and without amifostine

► We investigated the effect 6 Gy of WBI on the autophagic machinery of normal mouse lung. ► Irradiation induces dysfunction of the autophagic machinery in normal lung, characterized by decreased transcription of the LC3A/Beclin-1 mRNA and accumulation of the LC3A, and p62 proteins. ► The membrane bound LC3A-II protein levels increased in the cytosolic fraction (not in the pellet), contrasting the patterns noted after starvation-induced autophagy. ► Administration of amifostine, reversed all the LC3A and p62 findings, suggesting protection of the normal autophagic function.