Chinese Medicine Intervention in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Based on Autophagy：A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation process，and it is a key mechanism of diabetic cardiomyopathy （DCM）. Autophagy has dual regulatory effects on DCM. Under physiological conditions，normal autophagy can promote the decomposition of damaged cardiomyocytes and metabolites，so as to reduce the damage of harmful substances to the body and provide energy for cardiomyocytes. Under pathological conditions，the inhibited autophagy of cardiomyocytes will cause the accumulation of damaged cells and metabolites，which will cause damage to cardiomyocytes and eventually aggravate cardiac dysfunction in the patients with DCM. However，the over autophagy of cardiomyocytes will lead to autophagic death of a large number of cardiomyocytes and result in pathological myocardial remodeling and cardiac dysfunction，thus promoting the progression of DCM. Therefore，the restoration of a normal autophagy level is the key means to protect cardiomyocytes and improve the prognosis of DCM. Chinese medicine can regulate autophagy to treat DCM. Specifically，it can promote autophagy （making up for deficiency） or inhibit autophagy （removing excess） to restore the balance of autophagy，thereby alleviating DCM.