Impact of an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and erythropoietin on experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
BACKGROUND
Revascularization of infarcted myocardium results in release of inflammatory cytokines mediating myocardial reperfusion injury and heart failure. Blockage of inflammatory pathways dampens myocardial injury and reduces infarct size. We compared the impact of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist Anakinra and erythropoietin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. In contrast to others, we hypothesized that drug administration prior to reperfusion reduces myocardial damage.


RESULTS
12-15 week-old Lewis rats were subjected to myocardial ischemia by a 1 hr occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. After 15 min of ischemia, a single shot of Anakinra (2 mg/kg body weight (bw)) or erythropoietin (5000 IE/kg bw) was administered intravenously. In contrast to erythropoietin, Anakinra decreased infarct size (P < 0.05, N = 4/group) and troponin T levels (P < 0.05, N = 4/group).


CONCLUSIONS
One-time intravenous administration of Anakinra prior to myocardial reperfusion reduces infarct size in experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury. Thus, Anakinra may represent a treatment option in myocardial infarction prior to revascularization.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, Haus 18, 24105 Kiel, Germany. christinagrothusen@yahoo.de
Christina
C
Grothusen
Angelika
A
Hagemann
Tim
T
Attmann
Jan
J
Braesen
Ole
O
Broch
Jochen
J
Cremer
Jan
J
Schoettler
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020107:Troponin T / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D020107:Troponin T; D004921:Erythropoietin