[Cardiac disfunction and myocardial energy metabolism caused by interleukin-2 (IL-2)]

There is accumulating evidence that inflammatory cytokines are involved in the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction found in sepsis, myocardial infarction and acute rejection after heart transplantation. Although there are some previous reports on cytokines and myocardial depression, myocardial energy metabolism caused by cytokines have not been established yet. The purpose of the present study is to determine if the IL-2 effect on contractile function is related to impaired energy production. In isolated perfused rabbit hearts (n = 6), we measured developed pressure, ATP and phosphocreatine by 31P-NMR spectroscopy during and after a 5 minute infusion of IL-2 (200 U/ml/min). Although there was slightly increased inorganic phosphate which might be affect on myocardial contractility reduced, high energy phosphate and intracellular pH did not change by IL-2 infusion, suggesting another mechanism for myocardial depression caused by inflammatory cytokine, IL-2.