|
How Hearts Fail
"Cardiovascular disease remains one of the major killers in modern
society. It is believed to account for more than 12 million deaths
annually. To enable the development of viable treatment strategies, the
complex 'development] of this disease must first be understood.
Cardiovascular disease can be initiated by multiple factors; in recent
years it has emerged that a major contributory factor to its initiation
and progression is the loss of heart muscle cells. Adult 'heart muscle
cells] are terminally developed cells and, once destroyed, are rarely
replaced. Thus, their loss can contribute to the functional decline of
'muscular tissue] leading to heart disease as we know it.
"'Death of these cells occurs by necrosis, a] rapid and irreversible
process that occurs when cells are severely damaged...It is a
destructive process, as release of cellular content into the surrounding
environment can cause further damage or death to neighboring cells. This
contrasts with apoptosis, which plays a more 'constructive'
role...Apoptosis is a highly organized 'activity]...whereby a cell
neatly commits suicide without causing damage to surrounding tissue and
occurs normally during development, tissue turnover, and in the immune
system.
"...'observations reveal that oxygen radicals] may be involved in cell
death...'especially hydrogen peroxide*.]...
"Cellular antioxidants represent one of the most potent mechanisms of
combating damage and cell death. They act by removing free radicals from
the cell and thereby minimize oxidative stress resulting from a variety
of insults..."
DETAILS: Antioxidants include vitamins E and C, and the conventionally
present glutathione peroxidase of which selenium is a part.
*Technically, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is called a reactive
oxygen species but not a radical. It does similar damage.
By
C. Gill, R. Metril & A. Samali, Dept. of Biochemistry and National
Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, Nat. U. of Ireland, Galway,
and The Cardiovascular Inst., Loyola U. Med. Center, Maywood, IL In
FASEB Journal, vol.16, #2, 2002.
back
to Heart Disease index

TOP OF PAGE
SEARCH BY SUBJECT -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THIS MONTH'S HEALTH
BULLETIN NEWS

If you
find Health Bulletin
interesting,
please click here to "Tell a Friend"


click here |