Changes of cytokine and collagen in the myocardial remodeling after acute myocardial infarction in rats

AIM: To clarify the relationship between the cytokine and collagen in myocardial remodeling after acute myocardial infarction(MI) in rats.METHODS: In MI group,Wistar rats were undergone acute myocardial infarction by ligation of the anterior descending coronary artery.Sham operation was made in rats as control.The mRNA expression of collagen and cytokines such as TNF-α and TGF-β_1 in infract and non-infarct region of left myocardium were detected by RT-PCR at different time point(3 d,1 and 4 weeks).RESULTS: Collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ elevated as well as the TNF-α and TGF-β_1 in the MI group at 3th day.Expression of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅲ were higher in the infarct region than that in the non-infarct region even at 4 weeks.TNF-α and TGF-β_1 peaked at 1 week and declined gradually to the baseline,which was still higher than those in control group(P0.01).Correlation analysis revealed that expressions of TNF-α and TGF-β_1 were positively correlated with the collagen type Ⅰand Ⅲ(P0.01).CONCLUSION: Cytokines participate in the myocardial remodeling after MI.Interfering with expression of cytokines may be the potentially preventative method in the myocardial remodeling.