The mechanisms whereby IGF-1 alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy suggested by previous studies include activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway, which prevents apoptosis of cardiomyocytes43, the dissociation of intercalated discs44, mitochondrial dysfunction45 and fragmentation46. The gene discussed is IGF1; the disease is diabetic cardiomyopathy.