Regulatory role of autophagy in development of pulmonary artery hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a multi-etiological chronic disease characterized by a progressive elevation in pulmonary resistance and vascular remodeling. Its pathogenesis is complicated. Recently, emerging researches suggest that autophagy, as a self-protection mechanism maintaining the intracellular environment homeostasis in eukaryotes, participate in the occurrence and development of various types of PAH. Autophagy can regulate the survival, apoptosis of pulmonary vascular wall cells and secretion of vasoactive substances and inflammatory cytokines, thus influencing pulmonary vascular homeostasis. Some drugs based on regulating autophagy activity can effectively improve the prognosis of PAH. In this article, the regulatory role of autophagy on the development of pulmonary hypertension is reviewed to provide insight into PAH and its treatment.