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.

How Hearts Fail Bibliography

FASEB Journal, vol.16, #2, 2002. 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