Therapeutic targeting of autophagy in myocardial infarction and heart failure.
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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.
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
Jaime A
JA
Riquelme
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.|b FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
Myra N
MN
Chavez
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
David
D
Mondaca-Ruff
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.|c Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS), Division Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Facultad de Medicina , Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
Mario
M
Bustamante
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.|d Cancer Institute , University College London , London , UK.
Jose Miguel
JM
Vicencio
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
Andrew F G
AF
Quest
a Advanced Center for Chronic Disease (ACCDiS) & Center for Molecular Studies of the Cell (CEMC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.|e Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Division , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , TX , USA.
Sergio
S
Lavandero
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology
Autophagy; cell death; heart failure; ischemia reperfusion; myocardial infarction; pharmacological target