Carvedilol has stronger anti-inflammation and anti-virus effects than metoprolol in murine model with coxsackievirus B3-induced viral myocarditis

• We compare the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol in alleviating CVB3-induced VMC.
• Carvedilol decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines more strongly than metoprolol.
• Carvedilol increases anti-inflammatory cytokines more strongly than metoprolol.
• Carvedilol is stronger than metoprolol in decreasing phosphorylated p38MAPK.
• Carvedilol is more potent than metoprolol in ameliorating myocardial lesions in VMC.

AimsThis study aims to compare the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol in alleviating viral myocarditis (VMC) induced by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in mice.MethodsA total of 116 Balb/c mice were included in this study. Ninety-six mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with CVB3 to induce VMC. The CVB3 inoculated mice were evenly divided into myocarditis group (n = 32), carvedilol group (n = 32) and metoprolol group (n = 32). Twenty mice (control group) were inoculated intraperitoneally with normal saline. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and histopathologic scoring were used to investigate the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol on myocardial histopathologic changes on days 3 and 5. In addition, serum cTn-I levels, cytokine levels and virus titers were determined using chemiluminescence immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and plaque assay, respectively, on days 3 and 5. Finally, the levels of phosphorylated p38MAPK were studied using immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting on day 5.ResultsCarvedilol had a stronger effect than metoprolol in reducing the pathological scores of VMC induced by CVB3. Both carvedilol and metoprolol reduced the levels of cTn-I, but the effect of carvedilol was stronger. Carvedilol and metoprolol decreased the levels of myocardial pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine, with the effects of carvedilol being stronger than those of metoprolol. Carvedilol had a stronger effect in reducing myocardial virus concentration compared with metoprolol. Carvedilol was stronger than metoprolol in decreasing the levels of myocardial phosphorylated p38MAPK.ConclusionsIn conclusion, carvedilol was more potent than metoprolol in ameliorating myocardial lesions in VMC, probably due to its stronger modulation of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the activation of p38MAPK pathway through β1- and β2-adrenoreceptors.