Research advance in effects of endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria interaction on cardiovascular diseases

Homeostasis of mitochondrion and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) maintains normal cardiovascular functions. Structural and functional disorders in mitochondrion or ER are involved in the development of many cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, ER-mitochondria contact points were recognized and the interaction was reported to control mitochondrial dynamics, calcium transfer and lipid exchange in both cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, abnormal ER-mitochondria interaction was reported as one of the key mechanisms of coronary artery disease, heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Therefore, the ER-mitochondria interaction might be a new promising target for cardiovascular diseases.