Therapeutic targeting of autophagy in myocardial infarction and heart failure

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death. When MI is not lethal, heart failure (HF) is a major consequence with high prevalence and poor prognosis. The targeting of autophagy represents a potentially therapeutic approach for the treatment of both pathologies.

Areas covered: PubMed searches were performed to discuss the current state of the art regarding the role of autophagy in MI and HF. We review available and potential approaches to modulate autophagy from a pharmacological and genetic perspective. We also discuss the targeting of autophagy in myocardial regeneration.

Expert commentary: The targeting of autophagy has potential for the treatment of MI and HF. Autophagy is a process that takes place in virtually all cells of the body and thus, in order to evaluate this therapeutic approach in clinical trials, strategies that specifically target this process in the myocardium is required to avoid unwanted effects in other organs.

KEYWORDS:

• Autophagy
• cell death
• ischemia reperfusion
• myocardial infarction
• heart failure
• pharmacological target

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by Comision Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONICYT), Chile: FONDAP 15130011 (to SL & AFGQ), FONDECYT 1161156 (to SL), FONDECYT 3160298 (to JAR), FONDECYT 3160086 (to MNC), and FONDECYT 3160287 (to MB). D Mondaca-Ruff holds a CONICYT PhD fellowship (21130337). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.