THE ROLE OF CYTOKINES IN DISEASE PROGRESSION IN HEART-FAILURE

Recent studies have identified the importance of biologically active m olecules such as neurohormones as mediators of disease progression in heart failure. More recently it has become apparent that in addition t o neurohormones, another portfolio of biologically active molecules, t ermed cytokines, are also expressed in the setting of heart failure. T his article reviews recent clinical and experimental material that sug gests that the cytokines, much like the neurohormones, may represent a nother class of biologically active molecules that are responsible for the development and progression of heart failure.