TNF-α protects from exacerbated myocarditis and cardiac death by suppressing expansion of activated heart-reactive CD4+ T cells.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) represents a classical pro-inflammatory cytokine, and its increased levels positively correlate with the severity of many cardiovascular diseases. Surprisingly, some heart failure patients receiving high doses of anti-TNF-α antibodies showed serious health worsening. This work aimed to examine the role of TNF-α signalling on the development and progression of myocarditis and heart-specific autoimmunity.

Methods and results

Mice with genetic deletion of TNF-α (Tnf+/- and Tnf-/-) and littermate controls (Tnf+/+) were used to study myocarditis in the inducible and the transgenic T cell receptor (TCRM) models. Tnf+/- and Tnf-/- mice immunized with α-myosin heavy chain peptide (αMyHC) showed reduced myocarditis incidence, but the susceptible

SUBMITTER: Rolski F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10898940 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature