In this regard, upregulation of autophagy (more specifically, Beclin 1-dependent autophagy) following relief of ischemia is reportedly detrimental: i.e., pharmacologic inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine, and genetic knockdown of Beclin 1, significantly attenuated, rather than exacerbated, lethal IR-induced cardiomyocyte death [197,279,290,291]. This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and ischemia.