The interplay between pro-death and pro-survival signaling pathways in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: apoptosis meets autophagy.

INTRODUCTION: Programmed cell death of cardiac myocytes occurs following a bout of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), which results in reduced function of the heart. Numerous studies, including in vivo, have shown that cell death occurs via necrosis and apoptosis following I/R. Recently, autophagy has emerged as a powerful mediator of programmed cell death, either opposing or enhancing apoptosis, or acting as an alternative form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis. AIM: Here we review the apoptotic and autophagic signaling pathways, their influences on each other, and we discuss the relevance of autophagy in the heart.