Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases, which are among the most common diseases of the population and among the leading causes of death, are a constant topic of many research centers. A deeper understanding of their pathogenesis may contribute to the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Recently, the role of myokines-a group of cytokines secreted mainly by muscle cells-has been increasingly emphasized in the development of these diseases. Both their excess and deficiency can cause undesirable effects that are involved in the pathomechanism of these diseases. In this review, we focus on the latest studies on the role of myonectin, irisin, musclin, follistatin-like1 (FSTL1), dermcidin, apelin, and myostatin in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, and hypertension. In particular, we look at myostatin and irisin in the context of the development of heart failure and decreased levels of apelin with higher cardiovascular risk in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.