Resident Cardiac Mast Cells Degranulate and Release Preformed TNF-α, Initiating the Cytokine Cascade in Experimental Canine Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion

Abstract

Cardiac mast cells degranulate after myocardial ischemia, releasing preformed mediators, such as histamine and TNF-alpha. We suggest that mast cell-derived TNF-alpha may be a crucial factor in upregulating IL-6 in infiltrating leukocytes and initiating the cytokine cascade responsible for myocyte ICAM-1 induction and subsequent neutrophil-induced injury.