Cytokine Gene Expression After Myocardial Infarction in Rat Hearts

Abstract

Background—A large transmural myocardial infarction may initiate structural and geometric changes in the left ventricle that are commonly referred to as remodeling. Progressive, adverse remodeling of the myocardium may lead to ventricular dilatation and congestive heart failure. Recent studies have highlighted the effects of some cytokines on immune-mediated myocyte injury, postischemic myocardial inflammation, and cardiac function. However, studies of the involvement of cytokines in remodeling of the heart are few. Methods and Results—In a rat model of myocardial infarction, progressive dilatation of the left ventricular cavity and lack of appropriate hypertrophy of the surviving myocardium were confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography. The relative expression of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in the infarcted and noninfarcted myocardium of these rats, as well as in a group of sham-operated animals, was assessed by the technique of quantitative polymerase chain r...