title: Apoptosis in the myocardium: much is still expected.
abstract: Apoptosis continues to be a controversial concept and subject of debate among scientists regarding its value as the basis for new therapeutic strategies. Today, it is widely accepted that the death of cardiac myocytes under a variety of conditions appears to be apoptotic based on a variety of criteria. However, the significance of these observations and how the insights into apoptotic molecular pathways may provide novel therapeutic targets remains to be determined. It is important to reconsider the pertinent underlying mechanisms of apoptosis regulation, and how these molecular pathways may be viewed in the functioning, intact heart. This knowledge can be applied in pursuit of practical goals in a search for new ways to prevent myocardial damage following such injuries as ischaemia/reperfusion or exposure to cardiotoxic drugs. Although recent literature contains reports of positive findings, there has not yet been a rigorous application of the model of apoptosis in the myocardium, and the potential for development of new therapeutic strategies is not yet understood.
authors.affiliation: Xenomics, Inc., Richmond, CA 94805, USA.
authors.forename: Samuil R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Umansky
authors.forename: L David
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Tomei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D008246:Lysophospholipids; C032881:lysophosphatidic acid