The role of anti-cytokine therapy in the failing heart

The understanding of the role of 'neurohormones' in the progression of heart failure has led to the utilization of agents that antagonize the activation of neurohormonal systems as effective therapy in patients with heart failure. As more evidence emerges linking proinflammatory cytokines to disease progression in heart failure, there is an increasing interest in developing anti-cytokine strategies that might be used as adjunctive therapy in patients with heart failure. Accordingly, the focus of the present review is to summarize the experimental and clinical studies that have attempted to modulate the effects of cytokines in heart failure. Strategies have been employed to either suppress cytokine production or to prevent their toxic effects by interfering with the binding of cytokines to their cognate receptors.