In vivo cytokine gene expression in various T cell subsets of the autoimmune MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mouse.
We have used the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique to assess the expression of cytokine genes in various T cell subsets of autoimmune-prone mice. Our study confirmed the previously described features in lpr mice that IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta were transcribed by various T cell subsets. We in this study demonstrated that double negative (DN) T cells, the major cell population in lpr mice, failed to express interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6 genes that influence B cell growth and activation. In contrast, DN T cells expressed Eta-1 gene that is shown to augment polyclonal activation of B cells and immunoglobulin production. Thus, it is conceivable that T cell-derived B cell-stimulatory activities in MRL/lpr mice can be attributed to Eta-1, rather than IL-3, IL-4, IL-5 or IL-6. We also demonstrated that CD4+ T cells infiltrating into kidney tissues of MRL/lpr mice expressed various cytokine genes such as IL-1, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta and TGF-beta.
Mori
K
K
Section of Immunopathogenesis, School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Kobayashi
S
S
Inobe
M
M
Jia
W Y
WY
Tamakoshi
M
M
Miyazaki
T
T
Uede
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007372:Interferons