Mitochondria and Myocardial Cell Apoptosis

Apoptosis is also called programmed cell death,which is a suicide method to get rid of impaired,senile or unnecessary cells.Researches showed that cell apoptosis played an important role in the pathophysiology of many heart diseases including heart development,heart failure,primary hypertension,arhythmia and so on.It is known that mitochondria can result in cell apoptosis by releasing cytochrome C and apoptosis inducing factors,which are both result in nuclear apoptosis in vitro.Further more,the releasing of AIF and Cyt C is related to the changes of membrane potential and permeability of mitochondria,among which the releasing of AIF is also controlled by gene products of Bel-2.