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Noninvasive Assessment of Cardiac Abnormalities in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis by Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging in the Mouse
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Molecular aspects of myocarditis

N E Bowles1, J A Towbin

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Current Opinion in Cardiology
|July 3, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Myocarditis pathogenesis is clarified by understanding viral infection, cytokine roles, and apoptosis. Identifying viral receptors and successful vaccination strategies offers hope for reducing myocarditis incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mechanisms of myocarditis pathogenesis remain unclear.
  • Persistent viral myocardial infection is known, but pathologic progression is not well-defined.
  • Cytokine expression and apoptosis induction are implicated in myocarditis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms of myocarditis pathogenesis.
  • To define the pathologic progression of viral myocarditis.
  • To explore potential therapeutic and preventative strategies for myocarditis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies on cytokine expression and apoptosis in myocarditis.
  • Analysis of a mouse model of myocarditis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
  • Investigation of the coxsackievirus B and adenovirus receptor.

Main Results:

  • Cytokine expression and aberrant apoptosis play crucial roles in myocarditis.
  • A mouse model demonstrates myocarditis from tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression.
  • The common receptor for coxsackievirus B and adenovirus explains their cardiac effects.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding viral myocarditis mechanisms is advancing.
  • Vaccination strategies, like those for mumps, may prevent myocarditis caused by coxsackievirus B and adenovirus.
  • Further research into viral myocarditis pathogenesis is warranted.

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