DJ-1 as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Mitigating Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains one of the most prominent causes of mortality and morbidity globally, and the risk of ischemia–reperfusion injury is becoming more severe and constant. This underscores the need to develop new methods to protect the heart from damage. DJ-1 is a multifunctional intracellular protein encoded by the PARK7 gene that plays roles in processes including the control of autophagy, the preservation of mitochondrial integrity, the prevention of apoptosis, and the elimination of oxidative stress. DJ-1 has recently been the focus of growing interest as a target molecule relevant to treating myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury due to its protective properties and its role in cellular response mechanisms. Consistently, DJ-1-related interventions, such as its exogenous administration or the use of pharmacological agents, have been demonstrated to help protect the myocardium from ischemia–reperfusion injury and associated adverse outcomes. This review provides an overview of DJ-1 and its therapeutic relevance in the myocardium in the setting of ischemia and reperfusion.