Research progress on the regulation of autophagy in cardiovascular diseases by chemokines.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Chemokines are a class of proteins that possess characteristics of both chemoattractants and cytokines. They play a pivotal role in CVD by regulating the recruitment of immune cells and suppressing inflammatory responses. These proteins are crucial for maintaining cardiac function and for managing myocardial cell damage under various stress conditions. Autophagy, a vital intracellular degradation mechanism, is essential for clearing misfolded proteins and damaged organelles, thus promoting cell survival during starvation and other stress conditions. A substantial body of research indicates that chemokines can modulate the development of CVD by influencing the autophagy process. Research has shown that targeting pathways such as CXCR4 and CXCL12, defective CXCL16/CXCR6, and inhibiting CX3CL1 can regulate autophagy and impact CVD. The protective role of chemokines in CVD through the modulation of autophagy may offer new perspectives for treatment.