Tumor necrosis factor-α and tumor necrosis factor receptors in the failing human heart

Abstract

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine that produces negative inotropic effects in the heart. Recently, elevated levels of TNF-α have been reported in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. Although TNF-α is thought to exert its deleterious effects by binding to two cell surface receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, the level of expression and regulation of TNF receptors in the heart in cardiac disease states is not known. Methods and Results: We examined mRNA and protein levels for TNFR1, TNFR2, and TNF-α in explanted hearts from organ donors as well as in patients with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Northern blot analysis revealed that mRNA for TNFR1 and TNFR2 was present in nonfailing. DCM, and IHD hearts, TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptor protein levels, as measured by ELISA, were decreased 60% in DCM and IHD patients compared with nonfailing hearts (P