Immune cytokines and cardiac disease

Abstract

In conditions such as idiopathic dilated congestive cardiomyopathy associated with lymphocytic myocarditis and cardiac allograft rejection, the immune system can reversibly impair cardiac function. Cytokines interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor disrupt β-adrenergic signal transduction and agonist stimulation of contractility. Identification of this reversible effect potentially offers a novel pathophysiologic mechanism for producing cardiac injury.