Characteristics of lymphocytes cultured from murine viral myocarditis specimens: a preliminary and technical report

Charles A. Dana Research Institute, Bethe Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.

Long-term culture of lymphocytes from myocardial biopsy specimens has been reported. To test the usefulness of this technique in experimental models of murine myocarditis, the culture and characterization of lymphocytes from mice infected with encephalomyocarditis virus or coxsackievirus B3 were studied. Lymphocytes were successfully cultured from three hearts of encephalomyocarditis virus-infected mice in interleukin 2-containing culture. After approximately 10 days, lymphocytes migrated out of myocardium in the chronic stage of myocarditis and gradually increased in numbers. More than half of the exuding cells were Thy 1.2-positive. None of the myocardial samples from coxsackievirus B3-infected mice grew out lymphocytes. Pathologic examination of all specimens showed myocardial necrosis with lymphoid infiltration. Although further studies are needed, this preliminary study suggests that the technique of lymphocyte culture may promote new insights into the pathogenesis of experimental myocarditis.

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