Expression imbalance of transcription factors GATA-3 and T-bet in post-resuscitation myocardial immune dysfunction in a porcine model of cardiac arrest

Abstract Background This study investigated whether an imbalance in Th1/Th2 cells is involved in the post-resuscitation myocardial immune dysfunction. Methods 26 Wuzhishan miniature pigs were randomly divided into return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) group ( n  = 20) and sham-operated group ( n  = 6), 20 pigs were subjected to 8 min of electrically induced cardiac arrest, After successful ROSC, the 16 surviving pigs were randomly assigned to be sacrificed ( n  = 8 per group) at 12 and 24 h after ROSC, respectively. CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry, interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-γ in the myocardium were measured by ELISA, and protein and mRNA levels of GATA-3 and T-bet were detected in the myocardium by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR in the post-ROSC group ( n  = 8 per group) at 12 and 24 h after ROSC and sham-operated group ( n  = 6) at 24 h after ROSC, respectively. Results CD4 + lymphocyte subsets were significantly lower in the post-ROSC group compared with the sham-operated group ( P P P P Conclusion The myocardial immune dysfunction induced by the change in expression levels of the transcription factors GATA-3 and T-bet may be involved in the process of post-resuscitation myocardial injury in a porcine model of cardiac arrest.