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  4. Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026

Exploration on the Correlation between Mitophagy Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis Progression Based on the Phlegm-Blood Stasis Interaction Theory

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DOI: 10.23977/medcm.2026.080119 | Downloads: 1 | Views: 14

Author(s)

Yukai Zhao 1, Yan Cao 1, Minglang Zhang 1, Haibo Yang 1, Peng Lei 1,2

Affiliation(s)

1 Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, Shaanxi, China
2 Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, China

Corresponding Author

Peng Lei

ABSTRACT

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the common pathological basis of various cardiovascular diseases. As a selective form of autophagy, mitophagy specifically eliminates damaged mitochondria and acts as a pivotal regulatory mechanism during the initiation and progression of AS. Moderate mitophagy clears dysfunctional mitochondria, maintains mitochondrial quality stability and cellular homeostasis, and protects against vascular pathological damage. In contrast, defective mitophagy results in the accumulation of impaired mitochondria, aggravating intracellular oxidative stress, vascular inflammation and excessive cellular apoptosis, and ultimately accelerating AS progression. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), intermingled phlegm and blood stasis represents the core pathogenesis of AS. Mechanistically, the vascular protective effect of mitophagy is highly consistent with the TCM therapeutic principle of eliminating phlegm and resolving blood stasis. Based on the TCM pathogenesis theory of phlegm stasis intermingling, this review elaborates the intrinsic association between mitophagy dysfunction and AS progression, and systematically summarizes the core signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms by which TCM intervenes in AS via regulating mitophagy, so as to provide novel theoretical evidence and potential therapeutic strategies for the prevention and clinical treatment of atherosclerosis with TCM.

KEYWORDS

Intermingled phlegm and Blood Stasis; Mitophagy, Atherosclerosis; PINK1/Parkin, Traditional Chinese Medicine

CITE THIS PAPER

Yukai Zhao, Yan Cao, Minglang Zhang, Haibo Yang, Peng Lei. Exploration on the Correlation between Mitophagy Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis Progression Based on the Phlegm-Blood Stasis Interaction Theory. MEDS Chinese Medicine (2026). Vol. 8, No. 1, 165-171. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/medcm.2026.080119.

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