Enhanced expression of the S100A8/A9 complex in acute myocardial infarction patients.

Background: S100A8/A9 complex (S100A8/A9) is expressed in activated human neutrophils and macrophages. Enhanced expression of S100A8/A9 in atherosclerotic plaque of patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) has been demonstrated, but its profile in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been clarified.

Methods And Results: Serum S100A8/A9 levels were serially measured in patients with AMI (n=55) and UAP (n=16) during the acute period.

High prevalence of chronic myocarditis in dilated cardiomyopathy referred for left ventriculoplasty: expression of tenascin C as a possible marker for inflammation.

The objectives of this study were to analyze the incidence of chronic myocarditis in dilated cardiomyopathy and to evaluate the diagnostic value of tenascin C for assessing inflammatory activity in the resected myocardium. Dilated cardiomyopathy patients with chronic myocarditis have a poor clinical outcome despite recent advances in medical treatments. Therefore, a precise diagnosis of inflammatory activity is critical to ensuring appropriate therapy.

Suppression of inflammation in rat autoimmune myocarditis by S100A8/A9 through modulation of the proinflammatory cytokine network.

Aims: S100A8/A9 is expressed in activated monocytes/macrophages and assumed to be heavily involved in the pathogenesis of acute inflammation. Although several studies have asserted that S100A8/A9 has a proinflammatory function, the exact biological function of S100A8/A9 is yet to be described. We examined the anti-inflammatory effects of S100A8/A9 on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in rats.

Markedly increased intracellular lipid droplets and disruption of intercellular junctions in biopsied myocardium from a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is characterized by the progressive replacement of myocardial cells by fat and fibrous tissue. Here we describe the histopathological features of biopsied myocardium from a patient with ARVC. A large amount of adipose tissue was present in the biopsy specimen, and a group of myocardial cells were isolated as an island-like region in the adipose tissue.

Enhanced expression of type 1 helper T-cell cytokines in the myocardium of active cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: Various cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, but their expression in the myocardium has not been documented for cardiac sarcoidosis.

Methods And Results: Myocardial tissue was obtained from 12 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis at the time of left ventriculoplasty, biopsy or autopsy. mRNA expression of various inflammatory cytokines was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as by immunohistochemistry.

Enhanced expression of myeloid-related protein complex (MRP8/14) in macrophages and multinucleated giant cells in granulomas of patients with active cardiac sarcoidosis.

Background: The myeloid-related protein complex (MRP8/14) is expressed in activated human macrophages and reported to be involved in the inflammatory process. The expression of MRP8/14 in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was investigated.

Methods And Results: Serum MRP8/14 levels were measured in 35 patients with sarcoidosis and 23 patients with DCM.