title: Cytokine mRNA levels in antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: Levels of cytokine mRNA coding for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin (IL) 2, IL 1 beta, IL 4 or IL 6 have been measured by Northern blot analysis after antigen stimulation. As source for RNA we used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from donors which showed a proliferative response after tetanus toxoid or Candida albicans stimulation. For comparison PBMC were also stimulated with lectins and anti-CD3 antibody. With some variations among donors, antigens clearly induced measurable levels of IFN-gamma, GM-CSF and IL 2 mRNA. Increased levels for IL 6 were also detected after antigen stimulation. In contrast to polyclonal T cell stimuli, antigens showed delayed kinetics of mRNA steady-state levels and resembled in this respect more closely the stimulation with pokeweed mitogen. Thus, cytokine mRNA levels may be assessed in unfractionated PBMC after antigen stimulation. The two tested antigens also clearly show a cytokine pattern distinct from that induced in polyclonal stimulations such as anti-CD3.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Immunology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gauchat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gauchat
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: De Weck
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stadler
mesh_terms: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000502:physiology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016207:Cytokines; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001685:Biological Factors; D017252:CD3 Complex; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor