title: Nifedipine inhibits the activation of inflammatory and immune reactions in viral myocarditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of study is to investigate the effect of nifedipine on viral myocarditis in an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-week-old male DBA/2 mice were inoculated with 2 pfu of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and randomized to nifedipine (n=10) or control (n=10) group. The control group was fed by regular chow and the nifedipine group contained 0.01% of nifedipine. Mast cell density was counted, and expressions of messenger RNAs of stem cell factor (SCF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), pro-collagen I, mast cell proteases, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were evaluated by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area of myocardial necrosis was smaller in the nifedipine vs the control group (mean+/-SD, 1.2+/-1.3% vs 3.8+/-1.8%, respectively, P<0.005). The mast cell density (count/mm(2)) was lower in the nifedipine vs the control group (mean+/-SD, 0.23+/-0.16 vs 1.08+/-0.45, respectively, P<0.0005). The expressions of MMPs, mast cell proteases, TNF-alpha, IL-6, SCF and pro-collagen I were lower in the nifedipine group than in the control group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nifedipine inhibited the activation of various participants in inflammatory and immune reactions in EMCV myocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wenling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Dayi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053802:Tryptases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D015848:Interleukin-5; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D053802:Tryptases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D009543:Nifedipine