RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the alteration of interleukin-17 and interferon-γ double positive cells (IL-17(+)/IFN-γ(+) cells) in mice with coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) induced acute viral myocarditis (VMC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VMC was induced in male Balb/c mice by peritoneal injection of CVB3. Control mice received PBS injection. At 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks after injection, pathological scores were determined on hematoxylin-eosin stained heart sections and flow cytometric analysis was performed to evaluate the percent of IL-17(+)/IFN-γ(+) cells among CD4(+) T cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to control mice, the pathological scores of VMC mice were higher on CVB3 infection week 1 (1.8 ± 0.5), peaked on week 2 (2.8 ± 0.5) and declined thereafter. However, the proportion of IL-17(+)/IFN-γ(+) cells remained steadily at a low level throughout the observation period and was similar between VMC and control mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our data shows that IL-17(+)/IFN-γ(+) cells might not be involved in the inflammation process of CVB3 induced VMC mice model.</p>