Increased Myocardial Gene Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Nitric Oxide Synthase-2

Abstract

TNF-alpha and NOS2 gene expression is regionally upregulated in hibernating myocardium to a level intermediate between that of normal regions and ischemic regions without contractile reserve. This, along with a decline in serum cytokine levels after revascularization proportional to the extent of myocardial viability, suggests a contributing role for cardioinhibitory cytokines in the observed depression of function seen in hibernating myocardium.