Abstract

Cardiovascular disease leading to heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Improved pharmacological and interventional coronary procedures have led to improved outcomes following acute myocardial infarction. This success has translated into an unforeseen increased incidence in HF. This review summarizes the signaling pathways implicated in the transition to HF following cardiac injury. In addition, we provide an update on cell death signaling and discuss recent advances in cardiac fibrosis as an independent event leading to HF. Finally, we discuss cell-based therapies and their possible use to avert the deteriorating nature of HF. (c) 2019 American Physiological Society.