[Role of interleukin 17 in viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To explore the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the evolution of viral myocarditis (VMC) into dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: A mouse model of VMC was established in 100 male Balb/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of coxsackievirus B3. The expression of IL-17 protein in the cardiac tissue of the mice was detected immunohistochemically, and IL-17 mRNA in the splenocytes was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).