[The significance of Th1/Th2 function imbalance in patients with post-infarction cardiac insufficiency].
OBJECTIVE
To study the significance of Th1/Th2 function imbalance in patients with post-infarction cardiac insufficiency.


METHODS
Forty-three MI (myocardial infarction) patients were divided into 2 groups one month after the onset according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification system: group MI 1 (I, II) 25 patients and group MI 2 (III, IV) 18 patients. At the same time, the heart function was evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from these patients. Cytokine-producing CD4 + T cells were quantified by 3-color flow cytometry after being stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. After being stimulated with PHA, the levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.


RESULTS
The frequencies of IFN-gamma-producing T cells were found to be significantly higher in group MI 2 (16.8%) than that in group MI 1 (13.1%). There was no significant difference on the frequencies of IL-4-producing peripheral T cells between the two groups. The IFN-gamma level and the ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in group MI 2 were significantly higher than those in group MI 1, while there was no significant difference in IL-4 levels between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The Th-cell function was associated with heart function in post MI patients. The up-regulation of Th1 cell function was consistent with poor heart function, suggesting that Th1/Th2 cell function imbalance may participate in ventricular remodelling after MI.
Cheng
Xiang
X
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Immunology, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Liao
Yu-hua
YH
Li
Bin
B
Zhang
Jin-ying
JY
Ge
Hong-xia
HX
Yuan
Jing
J
Wang
Min
M
Liu
Ying
Y
Guo
Zhang-qiang
ZQ
Chen
Jing
J
Zhang
Jin
J
Chen
Peng
P
D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells; D018418:Th2 Cells
D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma