ABSTRACT
[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To evaluate the effect of intravenous injecting plasmid encoding interleukin-19-IgG on exper-imental autoimmune myocarditis ( EAM) in rats.METHODS:Cardiac myosin was emulsified with equal volume of com-plete Freund’ s adjuvant.The animal model of EAM was established by injecting with the preparation in both footpads of the Lewis rats.The rats were intravenously injected with the plasmid encoding IL-19-IgG on day 6.Echocardiography was per-formed before the rats were sacrificed on day 17.The effect of IL-19-IgG plasmid injection was evaluated by measuring the heart weight/body weight, myocarditis area, relative expression levels of atrial natriuretic peptide ( ANP) and brain natri-uretic peptide (BNP) in the hearts.The mRNA expression levels of related cytokines including IL-18, IL-1β, IL-12p35 and IFN-γwere detected.RESULTS:The rats in model group showed significant myocardial damage and a decrease in the left ventricular functions.The rats in the treatment group injected with IL-19-IgG plasmid showed an improvement of the cardiac functions.The ratio of heart weight/body weight, the area of myocarditis and the mRNA levels of ANP and BNP were significantly lower in IL-19-IgG treatment group than those in model group.The mRNA levels of IL-18, IL-1β, IL-12p35 and IFN-γwere also significantly decreased in IL-19-IgG treatment group.CONCLUSION:Intravenous injection of plasmid encoding IL-19-IgG effectively prevents the development of the left ventricular remodeling and myocardial damage in EAM rats.