Focus on ferroptosis, pyroptosis, apoptosis and autophagy of vascular endothelial cells to the strategic targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis

Abstract

Vascular endothelial cells (VECs), which are lined up in the inner surface of blood vessels, are in direct contact with the metabolite-related endogenous danger signals in the circulatory system. Moreover, VECs death impairs vasodilation and increases endothelium-dependent permeability, which is strongly correlated with the development of atherosclerosis (AS). Among several forms of cell death, regulatory death of endothelial cells frequently occurs in AS, mainly including ferroptosis, pyroptosis, apoptosis and autophagy. In this review, we summarize regulatory factors and signaling mechanisms of regulatory death in endothelial cells, discussing their effects in the context of the atherosclerotic procession.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Atherosclerosis; Autophagy; Ferroptosis; Pyroptosis; Vascular endothelial cells.