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Autophagy of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerotic Lesions

Autophagy genes were first identified in the yeast system and some of their mammalian orthologues have also been characterized. Increasing lines of evidence indicate that various intracellular proteins, including G proteins, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor) and PI3K/Akt/PKB, of transmembrane signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of autophagy genes. We have recently discovered autophagy as a mechanism of cell death in atherosclerotic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and 7-ketocholesterol can regulate the expression of autophagic genes, including microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain-3 (MAP1LC3) and Beclin 1, through Akt/PKB and c-jun N-terminal signal pathways in VSMCs. However, the balance between cell death and survival of VSMCs in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaques appears to best correlate with plaque instability. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of autophagy can provide key insights into the cell death machinery of atherosclerotic diseases. Addendum to: Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and TNF-Alpha Regulate Autophagy through c-jun N-Terminal Kinase and Akt Pathways in Human Atherosclerotic Vascular Smooth Cells G. Jia, G. Cheng, D.M. Gangahar and D.K. Agrawal Immunol Cell Biol 2006; 84:448-54