The therapeutic effect of intravenous immunoglobulins and vitamin C on the progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in the mouse.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous-immunoglobulin (IVIG) and vitamin C (VC) on the progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM).


METHODS
Fifty-two Balb/c mice were randomized into six groups: blank, small-dosage VC, large-dosage VC, IVIG, IVIG+VC, and a control group. All mice were sacrificed 21 days later. The level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), the ratios of the heart, spleen, and kidney to body weight (C/W, S/W, K/W), and pathological changes in the hearts and spleens were evaluated.


RESULTS
VC could extenuate inflammatory cell infiltration in the myocardium and calcification in the pericardium. IVIG or IVIG+VC could extenuate the pathological change more effectively. The C/W of each therapy group decreased significantly compared with that of control group. The TNF-alpha levels in the small- and large-dosage VC groups were a little lower than in the control group; the levels in the IVIG and IVIG+VC groups were significantly lower than in controls. Electron microscopic observation of the myocardium showed that VC could extenuate the damage to the myocardium. The myocardium in IVIG and IVIG+VC groups were almost normal.


CONCLUSIONS
IVIG and vitamin C have some protective and therapeutic effect on the progression of EAM by decreasing pathological damage to the myocardium and depressing TNF-alpha production. Especially IVIG combined with vitamin C are more effective as they can stimulate the immune reaction and increase IgG deposition in the myocardium.
Gong
Fangqi
F
Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. gongfangqi@zju.edu.cn
Hu
Yanfang
Y
Chen
Liqin
L
Gu
Weizhong
W
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001205:Ascorbic Acid