title: Cardiomyocyte death: mechanisms and translational implications.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although treatments have improved, development of novel therapies for patients with CVD remains a major research goal. Apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy occur in cardiac myocytes, and both gradual and acute cell death are hallmarks of cardiac pathology, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, and ischemia/reperfusion. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of autophagy, apoptosis, or necrosis diminishes infarct size and improves cardiac function in these disorders. Here, we review recent progress in the fields of autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis. In addition, we highlight the involvement of these mechanisms in cardiac pathology and discuss potential translational implications.
authors.affiliation: Centro Estudios Moleculares de la Celula, Departamento de Bioquimica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas y Farmaceuticas and Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiong
authors.forename: Z V
authors.initials: ZV
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pedrozo
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibacache
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Criollo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemchenko
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavandero
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009336:Necrosis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation