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Background: Defects of mitophagy, the selective form of autophagy for mitochondria, are commonly observed in several cardiovascular diseases and represent the main cause of mitochondrial dysfunction. For this reason, mitophagy has emerged as a novel and potential therapeutic target. Methods: In this review, we discuss current evidence about the biological significance of mitophagy in relevant preclinical models of cardiac and vascular diseases, such as heart failure, ischemia/reperfusion injury, metabolic cardiomyopathy and atherosclerosis. Results: Multiple studies have shown that cardiac and vascular mitophagy is an adaptive mechanism in response to stress, contributing to cardiovascular homeostasis. Mitophagy defects lead to cell death, ultimately impairing cardiac and vascular function, whereas restoration of mitophagy by specific compounds delays disease progression. Conclusions: Despite previous efforts, the molecular mechanisms underlying mitophagy activation in response to stress are not fully characterized. A comprehensive understanding of different forms of mitophagy active in the cardiovascular system is extremely important for the development of new drugs targeting this process. Human studies evaluating mitophagy abnormalities in patients at high cardiovascular risk also represent a future challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current gold standard for diagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in the absence of myocardial diseases, whose clinical manifestation is microvascular angina (MVA), is reactivity testing using adenosine or acetylcholine during coronary angiography. This invasive test can be difficult to perform, expensive, and harmful. The identification of easily obtainable blood biomarkers which reflect the pathophysiology of CMD, characterized by high reliability, precision, accuracy, and accessibility may reduce risks and costs related to invasive procedures and even facilitate the screening and diagnosis of CMD. In this review, we summarized the results of several studies that have investigated the possible relationships between blood biomarkers involved with CMD and MVA. More specifically, we have divided the analyzed biomarkers into 3 different groups, according to the main mechanisms underlying CMD: biomarkers of "endothelial dysfunction," "vascular inflammation," and "oxidative stress." Finally, in the last section of the review, we consider mixed mechanisms and biomarkers which are not included in the 3 major categories mentioned above, but could be involved in the pathogenesis of CMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades a significant increase of the migratory phenomenon from South Asian countries to the western world has occurred due to several factors, such as economic crisis, political instabilities, persecutions and wars. It is well established that South Asians (SA) have a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and premature onset of myocardial infarction episodes than other populations. This higher predisposition might be caused by genetic factors, common in both SA residing in their birth country and in those residing abroad, but it may also be due to the new spatial environment in which they live. We have found a higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in SA compared with other populations; in particular abdominal obesity, caused by an unhealthy diet rich in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, plays a key role in the development of insulin-resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension, leading to the increase risk of CAD in SA. Even emerging risk factors were found to be higher in this ethnic group; indeed, the evidence of higher levels of pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory factors, such as lipoprotein(a) and pro-inflammatory adipokines, as well as the influence of air pollution and psychosocial stress, may have consequences on the risk, treatment and outcomes of CAD in this population.

About 40% of patients undergoing coronary angiography for chest pain with anginal features have angiographically normal or near-normal coronary arteries. It was necessary to standardize all myocardial ischemia scenarios in stable patients in the absence of coronary artery disease, therefore the term INOCA (ischemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease) was coined. The aim of this article is to summarize and to clarify the vast and controversial chapter of INOCA, in order to better understand the pathophysiological, nosographic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.