title: Increase of plasma IL-9 and decrease of plasma IL-5, IL-7, and IFN-γ in patients with chronic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several cytokines are associated with the development and/or progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). Our aim was to look more closely at the cytokine networks involved in CHF, and to assess whether disease etiology affects cytokine expression. The study population was comprised of a) 69 patients with stable CHF, New York Heart Association (NYHA) II/IV classes, secondary to ischaemic (ICM) and non ischaemic dilated (NIDCM) cardiomyopathy and b) 16 control subjects. We analyzed and compared the plasma levels of 27 pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, in the study population and assessed for any possible correlation with echocardiographic parameters and disease duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  27 cytokines and growth factors were analyzed in the plasma of ICM- (n = 42) and NIDCM (n = 27) NYHA class II-IV patients vs age- and gender-matched controls (n = 16) by a beadbased multiplex immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA followed by Tukey post-hoc test for multiple comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-9, Monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and IL-8 plasma levels were increased in both ICM and NIDCM groups vs controls. In contrast, IL-7, IL-5, and Interferon (IFN)-γ were decreased in both ICM and NIDCM groups as compared to controls. Plasma IL-6 and IL-1 β were increased in ICM and decreased in NIDCM, vs controls, respectively.IL-9 levels inversely correlated, in ICM patients, with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) while IL-5 plasma levels inversely correlated with disease duration, in NYHA III/IV ICM patients.This is the first time that both an increase of plasma IL-9, and a decrease of plasma IL-5, IL-7 and IFN-γ have been reported in ICM as well as in NIDCM groups, vs controls. Interestingly, such cytokines are part of a network of genes whose expression levels change during chronic heart failure. The altered expression levels of MIP-1 β, VEGF, MCP-1, IL-1 β, IL-6, and IL-8, found in this study, are in keeping with previous reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase of plasma IL-9, and the decrease of plasma IL-5, IL-7 and IFN-γ in ICM as well as in NIDCM groups vs controls may contribute to get further insights into the inflammatory pathways involved in CHF.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cappuzzello
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Vito
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melchionna
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melillo
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cesareo
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crea
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liuzzo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchiano
authors.forename: Maurizio C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Capogrossi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Napolitano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000097:blood; D016906:Interleukin-9 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015851:Interleukin-7; D016906:Interleukin-9; D007371:Interferon-gamma