Restricted usage of T cell receptor V alpha-V beta genes in infiltrating cells in the hearts of patients with acute myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy.

6 patients (2 with acute myocarditis and 4 with dilated cardiomyopathy), average age 41.3 years, 5 male and 1 female. Myocardial tissue samples were obtained at autopsy. Four patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had congestive heart failure of 2 months, 3 years, and 10 years (two patients) duration. The study also included C3H/He male mice infected with coxsackievirus B3.

Expression of perforin, HLA class I, ICAM-1, T cell receptor (TCR) V alpha and V beta genes, and enterovirus genomes in myocardial tissuesurrogate