BNIP3 and Hyperglycemia: Importantly, activating the hedgehog glioma-associated oncogene homolod-1 pathway and downregulating BNIP3 expression inhibit the binding of BNIP3 and BCL2, enhance the binding of BECN1 and BCL2, and ultimately inhibit autophagy and improve EC injury and dysfunction (11), indicating that autophagy may be an important risk factor for inducing endothelial injury and that inhibition of autophagy will play a role in inhibiting hyperglycemia-induced endothelial injury.