Abstract: 【Abstract】Autophagy is a process through which injured and senescent organelles and macromolecular substances in cells are degraded. Autophagy plays a vital role in cell survival, development and homeostasis of interior environment. Vascular calcification is a common complication of chronic kidney disease, and many studies have demonstrated that autophagy is closely related to the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. In this article we comprehensively review the literature about the effects of autophagy on vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular calcification, intending to understand the mechanism of vascular calcification with respect to autophagy and to provide a novel insight into the treatment of chronic kidney disease.

Key words: autophagy, chronic kidney disease, vascular smooth muscle cell, vascular calcification