[Death by apoptosis of cardiomyocytes: from the cells to clinics]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and molecular biology
• Cardiac pathophysiology
• Cellular biology

Context:

• Myocardial remodeling in heart disease involves cellular changes like hypertrophy and altered protein activity.
• The regulation of cardiomyocyte cell mass in heart disease remains poorly understood.
• While cardiomyocyte hyperplasia is debated, a decrease in cell number may contribute to pathological changes.

Purpose:

• To review the role of cell loss, specifically apoptosis, in the context of heart disease.
• To highlight the growing evidence of cardiomyocyte apoptosis across various cardiomyopathies.
• To underscore the need for establishing the precise significance of apoptosis in heart disease pathophysiology.

Summary:

• Cellular processes such as hypertrophy and altered gene/protein activity are implicated in myocardial remodeling.
• A decrease in cardiomyocyte number, potentially through apoptosis, is increasingly recognized in conditions like ischemic, hypertrophic, and dilated cardiomyopathies.
• Apoptosis is a prominent topic in cardiology research but its exact role in heart disease pathogenesis requires further elucidation.

Impact:

• Establishes apoptosis as a key area of investigation in cardiovascular disease.
• Provides a foundation for future research into the mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
• Emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between the prevalence of apoptosis research and its established clinical significance in heart failure.