Abstract: AIM: To investigate the expression and significance of TNFSF13B in the experimental autoimmune myocarditis.METHODS: Immunize genetically predisposed BABL/c mice were with peptide containing myocarditogenic epitope covered by complete freund' s adjuvant(CFA) on 1st and 8th day,to establish the model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis.Hearts and serum of experimental and control mice were harvested on the 14th and 21st day after the first immunization.Histopathological changes of myocardium were detected by HE pigmentation.Expression of TNFSF13B in myocardium was measured by immunohistochemistry,and the computer aided video system was used to analysis and compare the positive expression rates of TNFSF13B in different groups.Titer of myosin-specific autoantibody was measured by ELISA.RESULT: Inflammation was emerged in the myocardium of fifteen experimental mice on 14th day after the first immunization.On 21st day after the first immunization,inflammation was detected in the myocardium of seventeen experimental mice,and the inflammation was more serious than on 14th day after the first immunization,but no inflammation was emerged in the myocardium of control mice.Expression of TNFSF13B was detected in myocardium of experimental autoimmune myocarditis remarkably,but was not detected in normal myocardium.High titer of myosin-specific autoantibody was detected in serum of mice with myocarditis.CONCLUSION: TNFSF13B play a role in the occurrence and development of autoimmune myocarditis.

Key words: TNFSF13B, epitope, myocarditis, autoimmune, autoantibody, humoral immune