Reperfusion injury revisited - Is there a role for growth factor signaling in limiting lethal reperfusion injury?

Myocardial reperfusion injury represents an important therapeutic target. The ability of several peptide growth factors, including transforming growth factor-beta1, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, cardiotrophin-1 and fibroblast growth factors, to modify reperfusion injury has been examined in recent studies. The protective effects of these agents may be related to the inhibition of apoptosis, especially during reperfusion, probably through p42/p44 MAP kinase and PI3-kinase/Akt signaling. Growth factor signaling may therefore represent a novel approach for the development of pharmacological strategies that attenuate reperfusion injury in the heart.