title: Signaling Pathways in Cardiac Myocyte Apoptosis.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases, the number 1 cause of death worldwide, are frequently associated with apoptotic death of cardiac myocytes. Since cardiomyocyte apoptosis is a highly regulated process, pharmacological intervention of apoptosis pathways may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for a number of cardiovascular diseases and disorders including myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion injury, chemotherapy cardiotoxicity, and end-stage heart failure. Despite rapid growth of our knowledge in apoptosis signaling pathways, a clinically applicable treatment targeting this cellular process is currently unavailable. To help identify potential innovative directions for future research, it is necessary to have a full understanding of the apoptotic pathways currently known to be functional in cardiac myocytes. Here, we summarize recent progress in the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis by multiple signaling molecules and pathways, with a focus on the involvement of these pathways in the pathogenesis of heart disease. In addition, we provide an update regarding bench to bedside translation of this knowledge and discuss unanswered questions that need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PBS 323, 205 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., P.O. Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210-1495, USA.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PBS 323, 205 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., P.O. Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210-1495, USA.
authors.forename: Yuening
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PBS 323, 205 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., P.O. Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210-1495, USA.
authors.forename: Zhaokang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9646-4824
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction