Korean J Vet Res.  2013 Dec;53(4):225-230.

Alternatively activated M2 macrophages increase in early stages of experimental autoimmune myocarditis in Lewis rats

• Oh H
• Ahn M
• Matsumoto
• Taekyun S

Abstract

To better understand the role of macrophages in early stages of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), we compared the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1, markers for classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages, respectively, in the hearts of EAM-affected and control rats. Immunohistochemical evidence revealed that both iNOS-positive and arginase 1-positive macrophages were found in EAM lesions, while some cells were co-localized with both markers. This finding suggests that the increased level of arginase-1, which is partly from M2 macrophages, contributes to the modulation of EAM, possibly through the reduction of nitric oxide in the lesion.

Keyword

arginase-1; experimental autoimmune myocarditis; inducible nitric oxide synthase; macrophage

MeSH Terms

Animals
Arginase
Heart
Macrophages*
Myocarditis*
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Rats*
Arginase
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II