(p. 12) Cell biology of heart failure 

In many etiologies of heart failure there is a reduction of the normal number of cardiac myocotes, and the syndrome is consistently associated with both qualitative and quantitative changes in these cells. This chapter describes the triggers, phenomena, and mechanisms associated with the transitions away from normal cardiac myocyte structure and function during pathological remodeling of the heart. Morphological adaptations of cardiac myocytes, the regulation of cardiac contractility, cardiac metabolism, and alternative cell death pathways activated in failing hearts are considered. The reversibility of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and dysfunction that has been demonstrated in in recent years is also highlighted. These reverse remodeling phenomena demonstrate the substantial plasticity of the severely failing heart, providing insights into factors driving and sustaining pathological adaptations and attesting to the potential benefit of importance of therapeutic interventions targeting the failing heart.