Issue Archive

The relationship of autophagy with endoplasmic reticulum stress and its role in pathogenesis, prevention and therapy of atherosclerosis

YAO Shu-Tong, QIN Shu-Cun

Institute of Atherosclerosis, Key Laboratory of Atherosclerosis in Universities of Shandong； College of Basic Medical Sciences, Taishan Medical University, Taian 271000, China

Abstract

Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process responsible for removing the injured proteins and organelles via lysosome-dependent pathway, and it plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that autophagy is activated and implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Autophagy can be triggered by oxidative lipids, cytokines and advanced glycation end products, and exerts protective or detrimental functions in the progression of atherosclerosis. However, the precise role and mechanisms of autophagy in different stages of atherosclerosis are still not fully clarified. This review highlights recent findings regarding autophagy response in vascular cells and its potential contribution to atherogenesis. Additionally, the relationship of autophagy with endoplasmic reticulum stress and whether autophagy could be a new therapeutic target for atherosclerosis are also discussed.

Key words: autophagy; atherosclerosis ; endoplasmic reticulum stress ; therapeutic target

Received: 2016-12-20　　Accepted: 2017-02-22

Corresponding author: 姚树桐,秦树存　　E-mail: yst228@126.com, shucunqin@hotmail.com

Citing This Article：

YAO Shu-Tong, QIN Shu-Cun. The relationship of autophagy with endoplasmic reticulum stress and its role in pathogenesis, prevention and therapy of atherosclerosis. Acta Physiol Sin 2017; 69 (4): 515-521 (in Chinese with English abstract).