Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 5, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

1.3K

Role of autophagy in advanced atherosclerosis (Review)

Yu-Ning Zhu1, Wen-Jing Fan1, Chi Zhang1

  • 1Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, P.R. China.

Molecular Medicine Reports
|March 29, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Selective removal of macrophages may improve atherosclerotic plaque stability. Autophagy, a cellular process, plays a key role in maintaining cell homeostasis and is linked to various diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis (AS) is a primary cause of global cardiovascular disease mortality.
  • Macrophages are crucial in atherosclerotic plaque stability and rupture.
  • Dysregulation of cellular processes like autophagy is linked to various diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of macrophage removal in atherosclerotic plaque stabilization.
  • To explore the implications of autophagy in cellular homeostasis and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized established models of atherosclerosis.
  • Employed techniques to selectively target and remove macrophages.
  • Analyzed cellular and plaque characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Selective macrophage removal demonstrated potential benefits in improving atherosclerotic plaque stability.
  • Autophagy's role in cellular homeostasis and its association with disease was highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting macrophages represents a potential therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.
  • Understanding autophagy is critical for managing diseases associated with cellular imbalance.

More Related Videos

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice09:06

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice

Published on: February 20, 2019

8.9K

Related Concept Videos

Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
6.0K
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
10.4K
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
1.7K
Inflammation01:38

Inflammation

Overview
63.2K
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
532
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
4.8K