Cardiovascular diseases(CVDs)and metabolic disorders are major components of noncommunicable diseases,causing an enormous health and economic burden worldwide.There are common risk factors and developmental mechanisms among them,indicating the far-reaching significance in exploring the corresponding therapeutic targets.MST1/2 kinases are well-established proapoptotic effectors that also bidirectionally regulate autophagic activity.Recent studies have demonstrated that MST1/2 influence the outcome of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases by regulating immune inflammation.In addition,drug development against them is in full swing.In this review,we mainly describe the roles and mechanisms of MST1/2 in apoptosis and autophagy in cardiovascular and metabolic events as well as emphasis on the existing evidence for their involvement in immune inflammation.Moreover,we summarize the latest progress of pharmacotherapy targeting MST1/2 and propose a new mode of drug combination therapy,which may be beneficial to seek more effective strategies to prevent and treat CVDs and metabolic disorders.
