The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and its significance in murine viral myocarditis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the change of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its mRNA in viral myocarditis (VMC) and its role in VMC.


METHODS
The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in VMC mice was studied by the way of RT-PCR. Changes of serum TNF-alpha on day 3, 5, 7, 9, 15 and 35 after virus inoculation in VMC mice were assayed using ELISA. The possible relationship of TNF-alpha and VMC was analysed.


RESULTS
The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in VMC mice increased apparently. The level of TNF-alpha mRNA expressed on the 7th day after virus inoculation (1.94) was higher than that on the 3rd day (1.09). Serum TNF-alpha of the VMC mice was higher than that of the control mice (127.2 +/- 13.8) from the 3rd to 35th day after virus inoculation (3rd day group 159.7 +/- 40.8, 5th day group 212.7 +/- 40.0, 7th day group 296.7 +/- 34.3, 9th day group 267.3 +/- 41.4, 15th day groups 187.8 +/- 49.6, and 35th day groups 155.4 +/- 35.9) and the peak expression was on the 7th day after the inoculation (P < 0.01 compared with the control group).


CONCLUSIONS
Both serum TNF-alpha and its mRNA increased in murine VMC, which may take part in the pathogenesis of VMC.
Zhang
Song
S
Cardiovascular Department, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China.
Rao
Bangfu
B
D000818:Animals; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009205:Myocarditis; D009206:Myocardium; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha