p62/SQSTM1: A potential molecular target for treatment of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and multiple signaling pathways participate in its pathophysiological process. It has been generally recognized that macrophage autophagy is involved in the development of atherosclerosis. As a multifunctional ubiquitin-binding protein, p62/SQSTM1 participates in many core processes of autophagy in macrophages. Therefore, it is significant to investigate the role of p62 in atherosclerosis on the basis of autophagy theory. In this paper, we will review the latest research about p62 protein in atherosclerosis, in order to provide a reference for further understanding of the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis.