Myocardial cell death is a key element in the pathogenesis and progression of various etiological cardiomyopathies such as
ischemia-reperfusion, toxic exposure, and various chronic diseases including myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and endothelial
dysfunction. Myocardial cell death is also observed in the hearts of diabetic patients and antimal models; however, its importance
in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy is not completely understood. The goal of this review is to summarize our current
understanding of the characteristics of diabetes-induced myocardial cell death. In the search of themechanisms by which diabetes
induces myocardial cell death, multiple cell death pathways have been proposed. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species accumulation
plays a critical role in the cell death by antioxidants or inhibitors for apoptosis-specific signaling pathways results in
a significant prevention of diabetic cardiotoxicity, suggesting that cell death in diabetic subjects plays an important role
in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Key words Apoptosis - hyperglycemia - hyperlipidemia - inflammation - cytokines - oxidative stress - antioxidants