The Synthesis of Stress Proteins in Cultured Cardiac Myocytes Is Induced by the Interleukins and Tumor Necrosis Factor

Mortality is very high in septic shock patients mainly due to cardiovascular failure. Clinical trials describe an acute septic cardiomyopathy with the typical features of severe cardiac insufficiency [1]. Several findings reported in the literature suggest a direct influence of immune mediators on the heart. The therapeutic use of interleukin (IL) 2 in oncology is frequently accompanied by severe cardiac complications resembling those observed in septic shock [2]. Patients on maintenance hemodialysis suffer from cardiac impairment; recently, increased IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) serum levels have been documented in these patients [3]. In vitro studies indicate a direct effect of the cytokines on heart cell metabolism [4]. Our study was performed to investigate specific cardiotoxic effects of immune mediators on cultured cardiac myocytes. The detection of stress protein formation was employed as a test system to monitor cardiotoxicity [5].