Different expressions of inflammatory cytokines in two types of cardiac hypertrophy in rats

Objective:To compare the different expressions of cardiac inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in two types of cardiac hypertrophy rat models induced by volume overload and pressure overload. Methods: Volume overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was established by abdominal aortacaval fistula (ACF) and pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was developed by constriction of aorta (CA). Heart weight measurement and histological examination were performed 1 week or 2 weeks after the operation respectively. The cytokine expression was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results:All the operated groups developed cardiac hypertrophy. The left ventricular fractional shortening of each operated group had no significant difference with the sham-operated groups respectively. As far as the total amount of each cytokine in left ventricular myocardium was concerned, compared to the sham-operated groups, IL-6 and IL-1β both increased significantly in CA groups [IL-6(23 722±8 671)pg vs (17 693±5 705)pg,P0.05 ;IL-1β(335±95)pg vs (159±99)pg,P0.01].There was no difference of TNF-α between operated and sham-operated groups in ACF or CA groups . Conclusion: The contents of IL-6 and IL-1β in myocardium increased in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.