Reduction in IL-33 expression exaggerates ischaemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in mice with diabetes mellitus

AimsThe underlying mechanism(s) of vulnerability of the diabetic myocardium to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury is not fully understood. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has been reported showing the beneficial effect to the myocardium on I/R injury. The aims of this study were to test whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects myocardial levels of IL-33 and to examine whether reduction in IL-33 is responsible for exaggerated I/R injury in the diabetic myocardium.