International journal of molecular medicine
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Apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of chronic myocardial ischemia (CMI) and heart failure (HF). Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is one of the newly defined signaling pathways which initiate apoptosis. Previous studies have shown that ERS-associated apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of HF induced by pressure-overload and acute myocardial infarction. ⋯ The ERS-associated apoptotic pathways, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) were also examined. We found that all three of these pathways were activated and that GRP78 protein and mRNA levels were significantly enhanced in the myocardium of HF mini pigs induced by CMI. These results suggest that ERS is present in the CMI-induced HF pig model, and that ERS-associated apoptosis is involved in the pathophysiology of HF induced by CMI.