Shu Q. Liu∗,†, Brandon J. Tefft*, Di Zhang*, Derek Roberts*, Daniel J. Schuster*, Allison Wu*
Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 319-338, 2011, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2011.008.319
Abstract Myocardial ischemia, a disorder causing myocardial infarction and malfunction, can activate various adaptive mechanisms that protect cardiomyocytes from ischemic injury. During the early hours post myocardial ischemia, injured cardiac cells can release several molecules, including adenosine, opioids, and bradykinin, which promote myocardial survival by activating the G protein signaling pathways. During a later phase about several days, myocardial ischemia induces upregulation of growth factors and cytokines, including VEGF, ILGF, HGF, and SDF-1, in the injured myocardium, contributing to cardioprotection. In addition to the injured heart, the liver participates in cardioprotection. In response to myocardial ischemia, More >