Left Ventricular Unloading After Acute Myocardial Infarction Reduces MMP/JNK Associated Apoptosis and Promotes FAK Cell-Survival Signaling

MMP-2/JNK apoptotic and β1D-integrin/FAK survival pathways are activated in the nonischemic adjacent zone after MI in adult sheep. LVAD unloading of approximately 50% cardiac output for 2 weeks attenuates remodeling in part by its negative effect on stretch-induced apoptosis and inhibition of MMP-2 activity.