The present invention concerns a method of treatment or prevention of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by diagnosing that a person is in need of treatment or prevention of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and administering a therapeutically effective amount of a ligand which modulates NF-kB transcription factor by interaction with estrogen receptor ER-.alpha., estrogen receptor ER-.beta., or both ER-.alpha. and ER-.beta. estrogen receptors with a substantial absence of creatine kinase stimulation. In certain preferred embodiments, the administration is substantially without uterotropic activity.