Caveolin-1 in autophagy: A potential therapeutic target in atherosclerosis

•Caveolin-1 is capable of mediating atherosclerosis progression.•Caveolin-1 may be beneficial effects for the treatment of atherosclerosis via autophagy activation through cholesterol metabolism, inflammatory responses and lipid transcytosis.•Caveolin-1 provides a strong platform for future development of novel therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis. Caveolin-1 is considered an important pathophysiological factor in atherosclerosis development. Previous studies indicate that caveolin-1 exhibits a pathogenic capacity in atherosclerosis via the regulation of membrane trafficking, cholesterol metabolism and cellular signal transduction. Accumulating evidence shows that autophagy activation influences the progression and development of atherosclerosis in multiple ways, including cholesterol metabolism, inflammatory responses and lipid transcytosis. However, how caveolin-1 is involved in autophagy activation in atherosclerosis remains unclear, and the precise mechanisms of caveolin-1 on autophagic flux in atherosclerosis need to be further investigated. Clarifying the roles and mechanisms of caveolin-1 in the regulation of autophagy activation is of great importance, contributing to the ability to manipulate caveolin-1 as a novel therapeutic approach for atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarize the understanding of the molecular structure, biological roles and biochemical functions of caveolin-1 to date and discuss the roles and mechanisms of caveolin-1 in autophagy activation. The emphasis on the potential of caveolin-1 to be a novel therapeutic target in atherosclerosis and understanding its precise functions and exact mechanisms in autophagic flux will provide evidence for future experimental research and aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis.