Inflammatory Cytokines and Postmyocardial Infarction Remodeling

Inflammatory response and cytokine elaboration are particularly active after myocardial infarction and contribute to cardiac remodeling and eventual host outcome. The triggers of cytokine release in the acute postinfarction period include mechanical deformation, ischemic stimulus, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokine self-amplification pathways. Acutely, the elaboration of tumor necrosis factor, IL-1 and IL-6, transforming growth factor families of cytokines, contribute to survival or deaths of myocytes, modulation of cardiac contractility, alterations of vascular endothelium, and recruitment of additional circulating cells of inflammation to the injured myocardium. This leads to further local oxidative…