The roles of the inhibitory autophagy regulator Rubicon in the heart: A new therapeutic target to prevent cardiac cell death

Exp Mol Med. 2021 Apr;53(4):528-536. doi: 10.1038/s12276-021-00600-3. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Abstract

Autophagy contributes to the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis. The level of autophagy is dynamically altered in heart disease. Although autophagy is a promising therapeutic target, only a few selective autophagy activator candidates have been reported thus far. Rubicon is one of the few endogenous negative regulators of autophagy and a potential target for autophagy-inducing therapeutics. Rubicon was initially identified as a component of the Class III PI3K complex, and it has multiple functions, not only in canonical autophagy but also in endosomal trafficking and inflammatory responses. This review summarizes the molecular action of Rubicon in canonical and noncanonical autophagy. We discuss the roles of Rubicon in cardiac stress and the therapeutic potential of Rubicon in cardiac diseases through its modulation of autophagy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy* / genetics
  • Autophagy-Related Proteins / genetics*
  • Autophagy-Related Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Death
  • Disease Management
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Endocytosis
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Homeostasis*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Autophagy-Related Proteins
  • Biomarkers
  • RUBCN protein, human