Gualou-Xiebai-derived Apigenin-7-O-glucoside inhibits VSMCs foam cell formation and alleviates atherosclerosis by targeting Rab7 to drive SNAP29-dependent lipophagy.
BACKGROUND Foam cell formation by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a key event in atherosclerotic plaque development. Lipophagy, a selective autophagy pathway governed by the small GTPase Rab7, helps maintain cellular lipid homeostasis, yet how Rab7-regulated lipophagy controls VSMC lipid balance in atherosclero...