A large amount of evidence has placed RIP3/MLKL and BNIP3/CASP3 in a central position in the pathogenesis of ischemia- and oxidative-stress-induced cardiac injury and heart failure.29, 37, 39, 43 For many years, apoptosis was considered the only form of regulated cell death, and studies investigating MI mainly focused on apoptosis.44, 45 In recent years, necroptosis has been found to be another regulated cell death type existing in various diseases, including MI;46, 47, 48 however, few studies have focused on necroptosis in MI.37 This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and heart failure.