Abstract
Mitochondria play a key role in the regulation of cell death, necrosis, and apoptosis. It is well known that the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) induces the cytochrome C release and results in apoptosis. Also, it has been reported that the inhibition of PTP by cyclosporin A prevents the ischemia/reperfusion-induced necrosis. Thus, the opening of mitochondrial PTP may be a central coordinating event of apoptotic and necrotic cell death. However, the relationship between PTP opening and both modes of cell death remains elusive. In this paper, we report the recent state of our research method and the role of mitochondrial PTP in cardiac cell death.
