Improved myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice lacking tumor necrosis factor-α

Objectives This study sought to assess the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury using TNF-α knockout (KO) mice. Background Tumor necrosis factor-α is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial I/R injury by promoting leukocyte infiltration of the myocardium. However, the precise role of TNF-α in I/R injury is still unknown. Methods The hearts in TNF-α KO and wild-type (WT) mice were exposed by left lateral thoracotomy, and the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min then reperfused for 120 min. Results The infarct size in TNF-α KO mice was significantly reduced compared with WT mice. The frequency of arrhythmia was decreased, and cardiac function during reperfusion was significantly improved in TNF-α KO mice compared with WT mice. The activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), the expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules and the infiltration of leukocytes were also significantly reduced in TNF-α KO mice, compared with WT mice. These findings provide evidence that TNF-α aggravates I/R injury. Conclusions Tumor necrosis factor-α exacerbates myocardial I/R injury at an early stage of reperfusion by activating NF-κB, thereby inducing chemokines and adhesion molecules and facilitating leukocyte infiltration.