Redox regulation of cardiomyocyte survival and death

In this review, attempts were made to establish the role of reactive oxygen species as signaling molecules that regulate cardiomyocyte life and death during ischemia and reperfusion. Ischemia/reperfusion is a classical example because partial or mild ischemia can lead to simultaneous execution and repair of the cardiomyocytes, which is disrupted during severe ischemia leading to cell necrosis because of the lack of ATP. Apoptosis and repair processes are mediated by adaptive response in which oxygen free radicals function as typical signaling molecules through the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinases, as well as induction of redox-sensitive transcription factors and genes.