title: Myocardial expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and MCP-1 after a single MDMA dose administered in a rat model.
abstract: Indirect effects of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and metabolites on the cardiac cells are well-known, the mechanism(s) underlying direct MDMA-induced cardiotoxicity remaining to be clarified. To better understand the immuno-inflammatory phenomena accompanying the cardiac alterations during MDMA administration, we conducted a study in an in vivo animal model to evaluate the cellular morphological alterations related to the biological response between MDMA administration and inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, 8, 10, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1). A total of 25 male rats were used. The effects were evaluated at 6, 16 and 24 hours after a single dose MDMA administered (20 mg/kg i.p.). We found high levels of the cardioinhibitory cytokines in rat heart after 3 and 6 hs from MDMA administration. Strongest reaction was observed at 24 hs for TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, 8, 10 and for MCP-1. Furthermore, we still determined the presence of MDMA and MDA in the plasma of rats treated with MDMA intra-peritoneal single injection; it was present as early at 6 hs and still present 24 hs after treatment. Western blot analysis in cardiac samples demonstrated the IL-1beta and IL-6 reactions in rats died spontaneously at fourth hour. The rise of the selective cardioinhibitory cytokines may be interpreted as the adaptive response of jeopardized myocardium to the cardiac dysfunction resulting from MDMA injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D'Avanzo, 71100 Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonsignore
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Centini
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: Zeno
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Földes-Papp
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turillazzi
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fineschi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D023421:Models, Animal; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine