The role of autophagy in common cardiovascular disease

Autophagy is a phenomenon in which the cell degrades its own components such as bulk impaired long-lived proteins and organelles. It is a lysosomal degradation pathway essential for survival, differentiation, development and homeostasis. Recent studies have demonstrated a variety of physiological and pathophysiological roles in autophagy, for example, adaptation to nutrient deprivation and intracellular clearance of protein and organelles. Autophagy plays an important pathophysiological role in cardiovascular diseases including cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular remodeling and ischemia/reperfusion. In this review we will summarize the effects of autophagy in normal heart and cardiovascular diseases and probe into possible new therapeutic targets.