Mitophagy in atherosclerosis: from mechanism to therapy

Yanhong Zhang; Jiajun Weng; Luyao Huan; Song Sheng; Fengqin Xu

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165507

Mitophagy in atherosclerosis: from mechanism to therapy

Front Immunol. 2023 May 16:14:1165507. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165507. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yanhong Zhang¹, Jiajun Weng^{1

2

3}, Luyao Huan^{1

4}, Song Sheng¹, Fengqin Xu^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
² Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Medical School (Xiyuan), Peking University, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
⁴ Graduate School of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Mitophagy is a type of autophagy that can selectively eliminate damaged and depolarized mitochondria to maintain mitochondrial activity and cellular homeostasis. Several pathways have been found to participate in different steps of mitophagy. Mitophagy plays a significant role in the homeostasis and physiological function of vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages, and is involved in the development of atherosclerosis (AS). At present, many medications and natural chemicals have been shown to alter mitophagy and slow the progression of AS. This review serves as an introduction to the field of mitophagy for researchers interested in targeting this pathway as part of a potential AS management strategy.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; different cell types; drug and natural product progression; mechanism progression; mitophagy.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Atherosclerosis* / therapy
Autophagy / physiology
Endothelial Cells
Homeostasis
Humans
Mitophagy* / physiology

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Major Key Projects of the Science and Technology Innovation Project of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Project no. CI2021A01406) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program and Young Scholars, project nos. 81973679 and 82204923).