Gene expression of inflammatory mediators in different chambers of the human heart.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory genes may be unevenly expressed in different heart chambers.


METHODS
Biopsies were taken simultaneously from the right atrium (RA), left atrium (LA), and left ventricle (LV) of 19 patients before cardioplegic arrest during open heart surgery. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (iNOS and eNOS), endothelin-1 (ET-1), E-selectin (CD62E), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its ligand CD18, and CD25 was evaluated with semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
Expression of TNFalpha mRNA was higher in RA than LA and LV (p<0.05), whereas IL-1beta was more expressed in LA than RA (p<0.05), which was higher than LV (p<0.0001). There were no significant regional differences in the expression of ICAM-1, CD62E, CD25, iNOS, and eNOS. CD18 was higher in RA than LA (p<0.05); ET-1 was more expressed in RA than LV (p<0.04). Patients with stable angina had no expression of eNOS.


CONCLUSIONS
Gene expression of inflammatory mediators was detected in the hearts of patients with different cardiovascular disorders, and was unevenly distributed in different heart chambers. Cardiac biopsies should be taken from the same site.
Valen
G
G
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. guro.valen@cmm.ki.se
Paulsson
G
G
Bennet
A M
AM
Hansson
G K
GK
Vaage
J
J
D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D018821:CD18 Antigens; D019040:E-Selectin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III