BACKGROUND: This study investigated the expression of the BCL2 and BAX mRNA, inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification and measurement of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) evaluated cardiac function.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with CHF (n=60) due to coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, and cardiomyopathy, and healthy controls (n=30) were studied. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) detected mRNA expression of BCL2 and BAX in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Color Doppler ultrasound measured the LVEF, and the NYHA classification of CHF was used.

RESULTS: In patients with CHF, levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and mRNA expression of BAX were significantly increased compared with the control group (p<0.01); BCL2 mRNA level was significantly lower (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, or BCL2 or BAX mRNA in patients with CHF due to coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, or cardiomyopathy. Expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and BAX mRNA were significantly associated with the degree of CHF. Cardiac function was negatively correlated with LVEF (p<0.05). Expression levels of BCL2 mRNA level were negatively correlated with cardiac function (p<0.05), and positively correlated with LVEF (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and BAX mRNA were negatively correlated with cardiac function, and BCL2 mRNA expression was positively associated with CHF.

Keywords: Genes, bcl-2, Heart Function Tests, Propafenone, Cardiomyopathies, Chronic Disease, Coronary Disease, Cytokines, Gene Expression Regulation, Hypertension, Inflammation Mediators, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2, RNA, Messenger, Stroke Volume, bcl-2-Associated X Protein