Recent insights into the role of autophagy in the heart

Abstract

Terminally differentiated cardiod cells and rely on autophagy to maintain homeostasis. Autophagy is a well-known catabolic degradation process involved in eliminating lipid droplets, protein aggregates, and dysfunctional organelles. Recycling of cellular cargo also helps to maintain energy supply to meet the metabolic demand in the heart. Given this, it is not surprising that dysregulation of autophagy is implicated in the aging process and in development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, understanding the functional role of autophagy in the heart at baseline and in various disease conditions continues to be an area of intense scientific investigation. Although consensus exists that functional autophagy is essential for cardiac homeostasis, its role in various diseases and the mechanisms underlying potential dysregulation remain unclear. Here, we review the latest insights into autophagy in cardiovascular homeostasis, aging, and disease development.