Upregulation of cell adhesion molecules and the presence of low grade inflammation in human chronic heart failure.
BACKGROUND
In the present study, the hypothesis was tested that cell adhesion molecules are expressed in failing human hearts and that a chronic inflammatory process contributes to chronic degeneration known to occur in cardiac incompetence. The cell adhesion molecules: ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, and E-selectin were studied, in addition to cellular markers of inflammation.


RESULTS
Tissue was obtained at transplantation from patients with either myocarditis, chronic ischaemic heart disease, or dilated cardiomyopathy. Controls were taken from patients with normal ventricles. Cell adhesion molecules were qualitatively evaluated and counted using specific antibodies and confocal microscopy. Additionally, semiquantitative evaluation of the presence of the CD3 antigen (T-lymphocytes), CD68 (macrophages), CD11a/CD18 (ICAM-1 receptor) and human tumour necrosis factor-a were used as indicators of chronic inflammation. PECAM-1 stained all endothelial cells but ICAM-1 was only present in 80% of all capillaries in control tissue. The ratio ICAM-1/PECAM-1 was significantly enhanced in all groups of diseased hearts. Myocytes in myocarditic hearts expressed ICAM-ICAM. CD3 positive lymphocytes, CD68 positive macrophages and CD11a/CD18 positive cells were more abundantly present than in control. Macrophages expressing tumour necrosis factor-a were found in failing myocardium but not in control tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Independent of the cause of heart failure, chronic low grade inflammation is present in failing human myocardium. This may significantly contribute to the structural deterioration that is the basis of reduced cardiac function in congestive heart failure.
Devaux
B
B
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Max-Planck-Institute, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
Scholz
D
D
Hirche
A
A
Klövekorn
W P
WP
Schaper
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha