The apoptosis related protein Cleaved Caspase-3 had an increased expression when treated with nicotine and a declined expression when exposed to α-CTX AuIB and LY294002, suggesting that nicotine has an antiapoptotic effect in the murine model of CVB3-induced myocarditis through α3β4-nAChR/PI3K/Akt-dependent survivin upregulation. The gene discussed is BIRC5; the disease is myocarditis.