How to chew up cells: lessons for the atherosclerotic plaque.

Defective organelles as well as dead cells need to be taken care of. These are the tasks for 2 biological processes: autophagy and efferocytosis. Both occur in the atherosclerotic plaque, but their modus operandi and role in the disease process have remained unclear. Two recent studies show that efficient macrophage autophagy is needed for optimal efferocytosis and that defective autophagy leads to oxidative stress, inflammasome activation, and expansion of the plaque’s necrotic core. Therefore, autophagy may play a crucial role in the resolution of vascular inflammation and prevent the progression of atherosclerosis.