Targeting ALDH2 for Therapeutic Interventions in Chronic Pain-Related Myocardial Ischemic Susceptibility

Clinical observations have demonstrated a link between chronic pain and increased ischemic heart disease mortality, but the mechanisms remain elusive. Reactive aldehydes have recently been confirmed as a new player in pain pathologies, while our previous study demonstrated that reactive aldehydes (4-HNE) induced carbonyl stress contributing to myocardial ischemic intolerance. The aim of this study was to explore whether chronic pain increases susceptibility to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury and to investigate the underlying mechanisms focusing on toxic aldehyde and carbonyl stress.