Abstract 4336: Interrogating the Human Myocardial Interstitium during Myocardial Arrest and Reperfusion: Dynamic Changes in Cytokines and Protease Activity
Background. Cytokines, such as the interleukins (IL1β, IL2, IL6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can modulate myocardial structure and function with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) but dynamic assessment of these biological molecules within the human myocardial interstitium with I/R has not been performed, and the inter-relationship to matrix metalloproteinases activity (MMPact) remains unexplored. Accordingly, a fluorogenic microdialysis method was used to simultaneously measure myocardial interstitial cytokine levels and MMPact in patients during and following I/R. Methods . MMPact was measured in patients (n=13) undergoing cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) at baseline, during myocardial arrest and CPB (on-CPB), and immediately following reperfusion and separation from CPB (post-CPB) by a validated in-line microdialysis fluorescent detection system. Myocardial interstitial fluid was subjected to cytokine analysis by high sensitivity multiplex suspension array. Results . Interstitial MMPact increased by over 30% post-CPB and was accompanied by a specific change in cytokine profiles (Figure ). The classical pro-inflammatory molecules such as TNF and IL6 were either not detectable or unchanged, whereas IL1β and IL2 which can be proinflammatory, were increased. Conclusions. These unique results demonstrated that a dynamic cytokine signature occurs within the human myocardial interstitium following I/R and is temporally related to heightened MMP activity. Direct interrogation of the human myocardial interstitium may provide a unique insight into critical signaling pathways which may evoke adverse structural and functional events following I/R.