Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Isolation and Physiological Analysis of Mouse Cardiomyocytes
11:02

Isolation and Physiological Analysis of Mouse Cardiomyocytes

Published on: September 7, 2014

Mechanisms of cell death in heart disease

Klitos Konstantinidis1, Russell S Whelan, Richard N Kitsis

  • 1Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
|May 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cell death, including apoptosis and programmed necrosis, is key to heart attack and heart failure. Inhibiting these cell death pathways may offer new treatments for these lethal cardiac syndromes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Myocardial infarction and heart failure are leading causes of global mortality.
  • Cell death pathways play a critical role in the pathogenesis of these cardiac syndromes.
  • Apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy are major forms of cell death implicated in heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy in cardiac syndromes.
  • To explore the interconnections between different cell death pathways.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting cell death for heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular mechanisms of cell death.
  • Analysis of genetic and pharmacological studies related to cell death in cardiac syndromes.
  • Synthesis of current understanding of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis is a highly regulated cell death process.
  • A significant portion of necrotic cell death is programmed.
  • Autophagy is associated with cell death in the context of cardiac syndromes.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding cell death mechanisms is crucial for addressing myocardial infarction and heart failure.
  • Targeting cell death pathways offers a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • Small molecules inhibiting cell death may lead to novel treatments for lethal heart conditions.

More Related Videos

A Simple and Effective Method to Consistently Isolate Mouse Cardiomyocytes06:25

A Simple and Effective Method to Consistently Isolate Mouse Cardiomyocytes

Published on: November 11, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Cellular Injury I: Introduction01:00

Cellular Injury I: Introduction

Cellular injury occurs when a cell cannot maintain homeostasis or adapt to stressors such as hypoxia, toxins, or trauma. Depending on severity and duration, injury may be reversible, allowing recovery, or irreversible, leading to cell death.General Mechanisms of Cell InjuryAlthough causes vary, most cellular injuries arise from a few key mechanisms that disrupt essential functions and often amplify one another. Cell survival depends on the extent and balance of these disturbances.ATP depletion...
Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis01:16

Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis

Necrosis is a form of irreversible cell death caused by severe injury such as ischemia, toxins, or trauma. Unlike programmed cell death, it is an uncontrolled, pathological process that typically provokes inflammation in surrounding tissues.Pathophysiologic ChangesNecrosis begins when cells sustain critical damage, leading to swelling of organelles, particularly mitochondria, and rapid ATP depletion. As energy levels decline, membrane ion pumps fail, leading to calcium influx and eventually,...
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...