Studies on the cytokines in heart failure

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This study showed that increased circulating cytokines were detected in patients with acute myocarditis and cardiomyopathy and suggested that cytokines may play some role in the pathogenesis of myocardial injury in these diseases. In our animal model of EMC virus myocarditis, plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha was elevated in the acute stage and exogenously administered anti-TNF-alpha antibody improved survival and myocardial lesion, suggesting importance of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis. Persistent expression of messenger RNA of TNF-alpha and IL-beta was seen in this model. A recently developed inotropic agent, vesnarinone was effective in the treatment of EMC virus myocarditis by its immunomodulating effect such as inhibition of production of TNF-alpha.Vesnarinone inhibited the production of various cytokines by peripheral blood from patients with heart failure and the reduction of cytokine release may contribute to the beneficial effect of the drug in the treatment of heart failure.