Study On The Mechanism Of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte In Viral Myocarditis

Background and objectivesViral myocarditis (VMC) is one of the most common acquired susceptible myocardial diseases among children. The histological characteristic is focal or diffusing infiltration of mononuclear cells. The clinical manifestation ranges from the asymptomatic state due to the focal inflammation to the fatal congestive heart failure due to diffuse myocarditis. Most patients with VMC can completely recover, while some may manifest cardiac dilatation or heart failure, and some even turn to cardiomyopathy, which is very difficult to recover. There is no specific therapy for VMC and its pathogenesis is not clear up to now. It is reported that both the direct viral injury and the host immune response are involved in the pathogenesis of VMC. The cytotoxicity mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) is the important mechanism of cardiomyocyte damage. So the research of CTL mechanism becomes a worldwide focus.It is deemed that the VMC pathogenesis process includes two phases. (1) The viral-mediated myocardium damage primarily occurs within the first week of viral infection. (2) Since the second week, cellular and humral immune response associated with virus predominantly contribute to cardiomyocyte injury, including extensive myocytes necrosis and severe mononuclear infiltration. T cell is the most important immunological competent cell in the cellular immune response and plays a...