In the rat thoracic aortic smooth muscle cell line A7r5, calycosin activates the AMPK/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in a dose-dependent way at 5, 10, and 20 μM, inducing autophagy and promoting soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex-mediated autophagosome–lysosome fusion, strengthening autophagy and mitigating vascular smooth muscle cell calcification for atherosclerosis treatment [29]. The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is atherosclerosis.