Key result
Targeting autophagy pathways like mitophagy and mTOR holds therapeutic promise for slowing cardiovascular disease progression.
Why the study?
Myocardial fibrosis is a common hallmark in cardiovascular diseases with complex pathogenesis, in which autophagy plays a pivotal regulatory role that requires elucidation.
This review highlights the molecular mechanisms by which autophagy regulates myocardial fibrosis, suggesting that targeting autophagic pathways holds therapeutic promise for slowing cardiovascular disease progression.
Autophagy modulation may offer therapeutic targets in myocardial fibrosis; leaves open validation in prospective clinical studies.
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a leading cause of global mortality. Myocardial fibrosis (MF), a common pathological hallmark in CVDs, signifies disease progression to severe stages. Its pathogenesis is highly complex, with autophagy playing a pivotal regulatory role. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes and critically evaluates the current literature to elucidate the interplay between MF and autophagy. The focus lies on systematically examining the molecular mechanisms and key signaling pathways involved in autophagy-mediated regulation of MF. Review Content: We systematically examine key molecular pathways and components through which autophagy regulates MF, including mitophagy, the NLRP3 inflammasome, FOXO signaling, the ULK1 complex, the mTOR pathway, and TGF-β signaling. These pathways collectively influence fibroblast activation, collagen metabolism, and overall cardiac extracellular matrix remodeling. Conclusions: Autophagy serves as a crucial modulator of myocardial fibrosis through multiple interconnected molecular pathways. Targeting specific nodes within the autophagic process holds significant therapeutic promise for mitigating MF and slowing CVD progression. This review consolidates current understanding and highlights novel insights, underscoring the need for further research to translate these mechanisms into effective clinical interventions.
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Wang et al. (2026) conducted a review in Myocardial fibrosis. Autophagy was evaluated. Autophagy regulates myocardial fibrosis through pathways like mitophagy and mTOR, and targeting these specific nodes holds significant therapeutic promise for slowing cardiovascular disease progression.
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