Enhanced expression of type 1 helper T-cell cytokines in the myocardium of active cardiac sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND
Various cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, but their expression in the myocardium has not been documented for cardiac sarcoidosis.


RESULTS
Myocardial tissue was obtained from 12 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis at the time of left ventriculoplasty, biopsy or autopsy. mRNA expression of various inflammatory cytokines was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as by immunohistochemistry. Ten patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) served as controls. Enhanced expression of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-2, IL-12 p40 and interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA was limited to the myocardium of cardiac sarcoidosis patients. Expression of IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15 and TNF-alpha occurred in both cardiac sarcoidosis and DCM patients, but IL-4 and IL-5 were not detected in either disease. Immunohistochemistry of the myocardial tissue of sarcoidosis revealed positive staining for IL-12 and IFN-gamma. IL-12 was localized in multinucleated giant cells and macrophages of the sarcoid granulomas, whereas IFN-gamma was detected in lymphocytes and vascular endothelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Type 1 helper T-cell cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Terasaki
Fumio
F
Department of Internal Medicine III, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan. in3012@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp
Ukimura
Akira
A
Tsukada
Bin
B
Fujita
Shuichi
S
Katashima
Takashi
T
Otsuka
Kaoru
K
Otsuka
Koji
K
Kanzaki
Yumiko
Y
Shimomura
Hiroaki
H
Fujita
Masatoshi
M
Tanaka
Takao
T
Kitaura
Yasushi
Y
D000328:Adult; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger