Cardiac myosin and the Th17 immunophenotype in human autoimmune myocarditis (HUM1P.252)

The immunopathogenesis of autoimmune myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans is unpredictable and pathogenic mechanisms undefined. The aim was to investigate potential autoimmune mechanisms in human autoimmune myocarditis and heart failure. Our evidence for a Th17 immunophenotype in human myocarditis/DCM(n=40) included reduced CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregulatory cells(0.0006), elevated Th17 cells(0.0008) and increased Th17-promoting cytokines(IL-6 and TGF-beta). Th1(IFNγ+) cells were not significantly elevated(p=0.7184). IL-6(