Increasing evidence suggests that macrophage autophagy plays a protective role in the progression of atherosclerosis, and the pharmacologically active compounds such as NGR1 and SSB2 (derived from Panax notoginseng and Bupleurum, respectively) may enhance autophagic flux, providing a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate the disease progression and stabilize plaques [43]. This evidence concerns the gene RTN4R and atherosclerosis.