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Autoimmune myocarditis, valvulitis, and cardiomyopathy

Jennifer M Myers1, DeLisa Fairweather, Sally A Huber

  • 1University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.

Current Protocols in Immunology
|April 9, 2013
PubMed

Insights

This study details methods for inducing and evaluating experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) and valvulitis in animal models. It provides protocols for assessing these inflammatory heart conditions and identifying associated autoantibodies for better understanding of human heart diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Animal Models of Disease

Background:

  • Myocarditis and valvulitis are inflammatory heart conditions impacting cardiac function and valve integrity.
  • Cardiac myosin is recognized as a key autoantigen in inflammatory heart diseases, with associated antibodies and T cells observed.
  • Animal models are crucial for studying human myocarditis and valvulitis, aiding in understanding disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a practical guide for inducing and evaluating experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in various mouse strains and Lewis rats.
  • To define protocols for cardiac myosin purification and EAM induction using cardiac myosin, its peptides, or coxsackievirus CVB3.
  • To outline methods for assessing myocarditis and valvulitis in both human and animal subjects, including the identification of functional autoantibodies.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of EAM in mice and rats using purified cardiac myosin, specific myocarditic peptides, or coxsackievirus CVB3.
  • Detailed protocols for cardiac myosin purification.
  • Assessment of myocarditis and valvulitis through histological and immunological evaluations.
  • Methods for detecting functional autoantibodies against cardiac myosin and adrenergic receptors.

Main Results:

  • Established protocols for reproducible induction of EAM and valvulitis in selected animal models.
  • Demonstrated the utility of cardiac myosin and its peptides in EAM induction.
  • Developed methods for assessing disease severity and identifying relevant autoantibodies.
  • Provided a framework for evaluating therapeutic interventions in preclinical models.

Conclusions:

  • The described protocols enable robust induction and evaluation of experimental autoimmune myocarditis and valvulitis.
  • These methods facilitate the study of autoimmune mechanisms in heart disease and the identification of pathogenic autoantibodies.
  • The developed animal models and assessment techniques are valuable tools for advancing research into inflammatory cardiomyopathies and valvular diseases.

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