OBJECTIVE: To study the change of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its mRNA in viral myocarditis (VMC) and its role in VMC. METHODS: The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in VMC mice was studied by the way of RT-PCR. Changes of serum TNF-alpha on day 3, 5, 7, 9, 15 and 35 after virus inoculation in VMC mice were assayed using ELISA. The possible relationship of TNF-alpha and VMC was analysed. RESULTS: The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in VMC mice increased apparently. The level of TNF-alpha mRNA expressed on the 7th day after virus inoculation (1.94) was higher than that on the 3rd day (1.09). Serum TNF-alpha of the VMC mice was higher than that of the control mice (127.2 +/- 13.8) from the 3rd to 35th day after virus inoculation (3rd day group 159.7 +/- 40.8, 5th day group 212.7 +/- 40.0, 7th day group 296.7 +/- 34.3, 9th day group 267.3 +/- 41.4, 15th day groups 187.8 +/- 49.6, and 35th day groups 155.4 +/- 35.9) and the peak expression was on the 7th day after the inoculation (P < 0.01 compared with the control group). CONCLUSIONS: Both serum TNF-alpha and its mRNA increased in murine VMC, which may take part in the pathogenesis of VMC.
OBJECTIVE: To study the change of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its mRNA in viral myocarditis (VMC) and its role in VMC. METHODS: The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in VMC mice was studied by the way of RT-PCR. Changes of serum TNF-alpha on day 3, 5, 7, 9, 15 and 35 after virus inoculation in VMC mice were assayed using ELISA. The possible relationship of TNF-alpha and VMC was analysed. RESULTS: The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in VMC mice increased apparently. The level of TNF-alpha mRNA expressed on the 7th day after virus inoculation (1.94) was higher than that on the 3rd day (1.09). Serum TNF-alpha of the VMC mice was higher than that of the control mice (127.2 +/- 13.8) from the 3rd to 35th day after virus inoculation (3rd day group 159.7 +/- 40.8, 5th day group 212.7 +/- 40.0, 7th day group 296.7 +/- 34.3, 9th day group 267.3 +/- 41.4, 15th day groups 187.8 +/- 49.6, and 35th day groups 155.4 +/- 35.9) and the peak expression was on the 7th day after the inoculation (P < 0.01 compared with the control group). CONCLUSIONS: Both serum TNF-alpha and its mRNA increased in murine VMC, which may take part in the pathogenesis of VMC.