Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2794792 | Cytokine | 2011 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Some patients with Group A Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (StrepTSS) develop a unique form of cardiomyopathy characterized by global hypokinesia and reduced cardiac index. Here we investigated the immune responses of cardiomyocytes to Group A Streptococcus both in vivo and in vitro. Our data demonstrate that cardiomyocyte-derived cytokines are produced following both direct GAS stimulation and after exposure to GAS-activated inflammatory cells. These locally produced, cardiomyocyte-derived cytokines may mediate cardiac contractile dysfunction observed in patients with StrepTSS-associated cardiomyopathy and may hold the key to our ability to attenuate this severe complication.
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Authors
Zhi Li, Amy E. Bryant, Stephanie M. Hamilton, Clifford R. Bayer, Yongsheng Ma, Dennis L. Stevens,