Cardiomyocyte autophagy: Metabolic profit and loss

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, even despite recent scientific and technological advances and comprehensive preventive strategies. The cardiac myocyte is a voracious consumer of energy, and alterations in metabolic substrate availability and consumption are hallmark features of these disorders. Autophagy, an evolutionarily ancient response to metabolic insufficiency, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of heart pathologies. However, the precise role of autophagy in these contexts remains obscure owing to its multifarious actions. Here, we review recently derived insights regarding the role of autophagy in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, highlighting its effects on metabolism.