AGT and heart failure: Additionally, MT mitigates nitrosative damage and cell death caused by angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced NOX.260 More specifically, MT2A functions as an anti-apoptotic protein by reducing the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-12, and BAX.261 In addition, MT2A shields against cardiac failure induced by ER stress by reducing myocardial apoptosis.