PINK1 and heart failure: Mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, often driven by insufficient mitophagy, are key contributors to heart failure progression.329 Biopsies of heart failure patients have revealed a modest decrease in the expression of autophagy-related markers such as LC3 and Beclin 1,334 together with a significant reduction in PINK1 levels.335 PINK1 knockout mice display impaired mitochondrial function, increased oxidative stress, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and ventricular dysfunction.335 Moreover, as a key regulator of mitophagy, AMPKα exhibits isoform-specific effects on heart failure.