Effects of free immunoglobulin light chains on viral myocarditis.
BACKGROUND
In recent work, we have demonstrated a crucial role of mast cells in the development of viral myocarditis. Viral infection could lead to increased synthesis of free immunoglobulin light chains (FLC) and our earlier work showed that FLC can trigger mast cell activation.


OBJECTIVE
We studied the possible involvement of FLC in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis, and therapeutic effects of FLC using an animal model of viral myocarditis.


RESULTS
DBA/2 mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Serum levels and concentrations in the heart of kappa FLC on day 14 in mice inoculated with EMC virus were significantly increased compared with controls. Myocardial viral concentration was significantly inhibited, the area of myocardial lesions was smaller in mice treated with kappa or lambda FLC, and survival of mice given FLC significantly improved. In contrast, an FLC antagonist deteriorated myocarditis. kappa and lambda FLC chains inhibited EMC viral replication in human amnion cells in vitro. lambda FLC significantly increased the gene expression of interleukin-10 in the heart which was previously shown to improve viral myocarditis when given exogenously. FLC also tended to increase the gene expressions of interferon-alpha and -gamma in the heart mice.


CONCLUSIONS
FLC have antiviral and antiinflammatory effects and improved viral myocarditis in mice. FLC may be promising agents for the treatment of viral myocarditis.
Matsumori
Akira
A
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. amat@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Shimada
Miho
M
Jie
Xiao
X
Higuchi
Hirokazu
H
Groot Kormelink
Tom
T
Redegeld
Frank A
FA
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains