Activating transcription factor 3--an endogenous inhibitor of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (Review).

Coronary heart diseases, particularly acute coronary syndrome, have increased in morbidity and mortality in recent decades. Percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting and thrombolytic agents are effective strategies to rescue the infarcted myocardium. In addition to acute myocardial infarction, the resulting myocardial ischemia‑reperfusion injury (MIRI) leads to serious secondary injury of the heart. Studies have demonstrated that activating transcription factor (ATF)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding family member ATF3 had a negative regulatory role in IRI, particularly in the kidney, cerebrum and liver. The present review expounded the expression characteristics of ATF3 and its protective effects against MIRI, providing a theoretical basis for the overexpression of ATF3 in the myocardium as a promising gene-therapeutic strategy for MIRI.