The balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways in the failing myocardium

The purpose of this review is to highlight those circulating molecules, membrane receptors, and signaling pathways that initiate, potentiate, or conversely, inhibit apoptosis within cardiomyocytes. This review focuses on pathways directly related to the failing heart and discusses the limitations of current methodologies for assessing cardiomyocellular apoptosis. It is important to note that the adrenergic, reactive oxygen species, and proinflammatory cytokine signaling pathways are not the only pro-apoptotic pathways active in the myocardium, nor are IL-6-related cytokine, calcineurin, and IGF-1/P13K/Akt signaling pathways the only anti-apoptotic pathways active in the myocardium. However, the are among the best-characterized apoptosis-mediating pathways and therefore they may serve as foundation for future studies aimed at identifying novel apoptotic regulating pathways active in cardiomyocytes.