New insights into the relationship of mitochondrial metabolism and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the number one killer of human health. In view of the important role of mitochondria in the formation and evolution of atherosclerosis, our manuscript aims to comprehensively elaborate the relationship between mitochondria and the formation and evolution of atherosclerosis from the aspects of mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondria-organelle interaction (communication), mitochondria and cell death, mitochondria and vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch, etc., which is combined with genome, transcriptome and proteome, in order to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the diagnosis and treatment of related diseases. •Specific Sirtuin protein family abnormally expressed in mitochondria promote atherosclerosis through mitochondrial metabolism.•Disordered communication between mitochondria and organelles induces atherosclerosis.•Abnormal mitochondrial epigenetic modification contributes to atherosclerosis.•Vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch caused by mitochondria is associated with atherosclerosis.