ER stress

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurs when the ER, a cell’s factory for producing proteins, faces a buildup of unfolded or malfunctioning proteins. This overload signals that the cell needs to clear or fix these proteins to maintain health. If the stress persists, it can lead to cell dysfunction or death, contributing to various diseases like neurodegeneration, diabetes, and heart disease. Essentially, ER stress is the cell's response to protein production problems, acting as a warning system to restore balance or initiate protective measures.