Role of autophagy in the progression of heart failure

组成性自噬对于控制蛋白质和细胞器的质量以维持细胞功能是重要的。我们以前曾报道过心脏自噬在心力衰竭的发病机制中具有保护作用。在本研究中，我们监测心脏特异性Atg5缺陷小鼠。Atg5缺陷小鼠在六个月大后开始死亡。Atg5缺陷小鼠在10个月大时表现出严重的心功能障碍。超微结构分析显示，Atg5缺陷小鼠肌节结构紊乱，线粒体塌陷。这些结果表明，连续的组成性自噬在维持心脏结构和功能中起着至关重要的作用。

Constitutive autophagy is important for control of the quality of proteins and organelles to maintain cell function. We have previously reported that autophagy in the heart has a protective role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. In the present study, we monitored cardiac-specific Atg5-deficient mice. The Atg5-deficient mice began to die after the age of six months. Atg5-deficient mice exhibited severe cardiac dysfunction at the age of 10 months. Ultrastructural analysis revealed a disorganized sarcomere structure and collapsed mitochondria in Atg5-deficient mice. These results suggest that continuous constitutive autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiac structure and function.