Fig. 7: Proposed mechanism of EZH2 regulates ACD of VSMCs and AD occurrence.

In the aorta of AD patients, reduced EZH2 expression results in H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 level decrease, which leads to increase expression of ATG5 and ATG7. On the other hand, the MEK–ERK1/2 signaling pathway is activated by decreased EZH2. Enhanced ATG5 and ATG7 expression and MEK–ERK1/2 signaling activation jointly induce excessive autophagosome formation and then result in ACD of VSMCs, which ultimately accelerates AD occurrence