Neurohormonal regulation of myocardial cell apoptosis during the development of heart failure

Adult cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated cells that are no longer able to divide. Accumulating data support the idea that apoptosis in these cells is involved in the transition from cardiac compensation to decompensated heart failure. Since a number of neurohormonal factors are activated in this state, these factors may be involved in the positive and negative regulation of apoptosis in cardiac myocytes. β 1 ‐ Adrenergic receptor and angiotensin type 1 receptor pathways, nitric oxide and natriuretic peptides are involved in the induction of apoptosis in these cells, while α 1 ‐ and β 2 ‐ad renergic receptor and endothelin‐1 type A receptor pathways and gp130‐related cytokines are antiapoptotic. The myocardial protection of the latter is mediated, at least in part, through mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐depen dent pathways, compatible with the findings in other cell types. In contrast, signaling pathways leading to apoptosis in cardiac myocytes are distinct from those in other cell types. The cAMP/PKA pathway induces apoptosis in cardiac myocytes and blocks apoptosis in other cell types. The p300 protein, a coactivator of p53, mediates apoptosis in fibroblasts but appears to play a protective role in differentiated cardiac myocytes. The inhibition of myocardial cell apoptosis in heart failure may be achieved by directly blocking apoptosis signaling pathways or by modulating neurohormonal factors involved in their regulation. These may provide novel therapeutic strategies in some forms of heart failure. J. Cell. Physiol. 186:11–18, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.