Autophagy: A new target for the treatment of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis remains one of the main causes of death in both developed and developing countries, leading to acute cardiovascular events and chronic injuries. Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease, and several studies have demonstrated that autophagy plays an important role in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular process by which misfolded proteins and excessive or dysfunctional organelles are degraded to maintain energy homeostasis. There is increasing evidence that autophagy can be activated in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, especially macrophage autophagy. As the molecular mechanism of autophagy is complicated, the regulation of atherosclerosis is varied. Understanding the types of autophagy regulating factors may provide clues for the treatment of atherosclerosis. In this review, the role of autophagy in atherosclerosis and the current understanding of the association between autophagy and atherosclerosis were investigated. Moreover, the regulation of autophagy by mTOR inhibitors, as well as natural ingredients such as resveratrol and berberine was elucidated.