This study provides initial evidence that TNF-alpha and its receptors are upregulated in advanced heart failure, suggesting a maladaptive role in cardiac decompensation.
In summary, the results of this study constitute the initial demonstration that TNF receptor proteins are dynamically regulated in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. Moreover, the observation that failing hearts express elevated levels of TNF-alpha suggests that overexpression of this cytokine may be one of several different maladaptive mechanisms responsible for the progressive cardiac decompensation that occurs in advanced heart failure.
Torre‐Amione et al. (Thu,) studied this question.