title: Role of Th-1 lymphocytes in the development of protective immunity against Mycobacterium leprae. Analysis of lymphocyte function by polymerase chain reaction detection of cytokine messenger RNA.
abstract: The patterns of lymphokine mRNA expression during the development of protective immunity to Mycobacterium leprae after intradermal vaccination of mice with killed M. leprae were studied. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique for detecting mRNA expression in small numbers of cells, we observed changes in the mRNA expression of a number of cytokine genes in the lymph nodes draining the site of vaccination. In particular, IL-1 (-alpha and -beta), IL-2, TNF (-alpha and -beta), and IFN-gamma mRNA were readily detected, whereas IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNA were not detected, or were detectable only at very low levels. This is consistent with the selective activation of Th-1 Th cells. The effect of in vitro exposure of these cells to the immunizing Ag was also investigated; again, IL-1, IL-2, TNF, and IFN-gamma mRNA were abundant, but in addition, IL-3, IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNA were greatly increased, suggesting an important role in the recall response.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Leprosy and Mycobacterial Research, National Instiute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Colston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger