Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Diabetes. Oct 15, 2023; 14(10): 1478-1492
Published online Oct 15, 2023. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v14.i10.1478
Role of glycolysis in diabetic atherosclerosis
Qian-Jia Liu, Wei Yuan, Ping Yang, Chen Shao
Qian-Jia Liu, Wei Yuan, Ping Yang, Chen Shao, Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212000, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Liu QJ, Yuan W, Yang P, and Shao C contributed to conceptualization and writing-review and editing; and all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Supported by the Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Research Center of Zhenjiang, No. SS2018008; Social Development Foundation of Jiangsu, No. BE2021694; and Jiangsu Provincial 333 Talent Project, No. BRA2020.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Chen Shao, MSc, Researcher, Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, No. 438 Jiefang Road, Zhenjiang 212000, Jiangsu Province, China. shaochen84@163.com
Received: July 6, 2023
Peer-review started: July 6, 2023
First decision: August 4, 2023
Revised: August 16, 2023
Accepted: September 14, 2023
Article in press: September 14, 2023
Published online: October 15, 2023
Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a kind of typical metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the most common complications of diabetes. Modern lifestyles and trends that promote overconsumption and unhealthy practices have contributed to an increase in the annual incidence of diabetic AS worldwide, which has created a heavy burden on society. Several studies have shown the significant effects of glycolysis-related changes on the occurrence and development of diabetic AS, which may serve as novel thera-peutic targets for diabetic AS in the future. Glycolysis is an important metabolic pathway that generates energy in various cells of the blood vessel wall. In particular, it plays a vital role in the physiological and pathological activities of the three important cells, Endothelial cells, macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. There are lots of similar mechanisms underlying diabetic and common AS, the former is more complex. In this article, we describe the role and mechanism underlying glycolysis in diabetic AS, as well as the therapeutic targets, such as trained immunity, microRNAs, gut microbiota, and associated drugs, with the aim to provide some new perspectives and potentially feasible programs for the treatment of diabetic AS in the foreseeable future.

Keywords: Atherosclerotic plaque, Hyperglycemia, Trained immunity, microRNAs, Gut microbiota, Drugs

Core Tip: Diabetic atherosclerosis (AS) is becoming increasingly common today. Glycolysis, as a metabolic process that plays a significant role in its occurrence and development, has great potential to become an important therapeutic target in the future. We herein discuss the specific mechanisms of glycolysis in the development of diabetic AS and possible directions of therapeutic targets.