Time course of interleukin-21 and related cytokines expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-3758.2012.01.010
- VernacularTitle:白细胞介素-21及其相关因子在大鼠自身免疫性心肌炎急性期各时程中的表达
- Author:
Yan WANG
1
;
Gang LI
;
Ji-Xian TANG
;
He CHANG
Author Information
1. 厦门大学附属中山医院
- Keywords:
Myocarditis;
Interleukins;
Cytokines;
Th17 cell
- From:
Chinese Journal of Cardiology
2012;40(1):43-49
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To observe the time course of interleukin(IL)-21 and related cytokines expression in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis(EAM).Methods Antigen was prepared with an emulsion of porcine cardiac myosin in complete Freund's adjuvant,plus Mycobecterium tuberculosis H37Ra strain.EAM model was made by hypodermic injection of myosin in hind legs of Lewis rats.mRNA expression of IL-21 and related cytokines(IL-21 R,IL-17,TGF-[β,IL-6)in different tissues(heart,liver,spleen,kidney)were determined at 2 weeks after immunization by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time RTPCR.Furthermore,the time course of IL-21 and related cytokines expression in the acute phase of EAM (2 w,3 w,4 w)was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR,and IL-21,IL-17 protein expression was determined by Western blot and ELISA.The location of IL-21R was examined by immunohistochemistry at 2 w after immunization.Results Histopathology examination evidenced abundant mononuclear cells in the myocardium of 2 weeks EAM rats.Fibrosis and muhinucleated giant cells were observed in the myocardium of 3 weeks EAM rats.Inflammation was reduced and large amount of fibrosis could be found in 4 weeks EAM rats.The heart weight/body weight ratio in normal,EAM 2 w,3 w,4 w group was(3.011±0.117)mg/g,(4.736 ± 1.279)mg/g,(7.200 ± 0.308)mg/g and(4.622 ±.0.978)mg/g respectively.IL-21 mainly expressed in heart and spleen,IL-21R,IL-17,TGF-β mainly expressed in spleen,and IL-17,IL-6 mainly expressed in heart of EAM rats.IL-21R mainly distributed in cardiomyocytes of 2 weeks EAM rats.In line with pathological EAM course,the expression of IL-21 and related cytokines peaked at 2 weeks and then returned to normal at 4 weeks after immunization.Conclusion IL-21 ant related cytokines were involved in the pathological process of EAM,upregulated IL-21 expression might promote Th17 cell differentiation and enhance Th17 cell secretion.
