Kinetic and organ-specific patterns of cytokine expression in acute graft-versus-host disease.
Although many cytokines have been previously implicated in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), no study to date has comprehensively evaluated their expression over time or in different tissues affected by GVHD. Using a semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR technique and a murine model of acute GVHD, we have evaluated the expression levels of mRNA for a wide range of cytokines in spleen, gut and liver tissues at weekly intervals after bone marrow transfer. The earliest cytokine responses seen were increases in IL-2, IL-10, IFN-gamma, MIP-1 alpha and TNF-alpha in the spleen, suggesting a primarily Th1 pathway. Other cytokines (IL-1 alpha, IL-10 and MIP-1 alpha) were persistently elevated in GVHD mice, but were variable depending on the tissue. These data demonstrate that a wide range of cytokines are involved in the GVHD response and that their kinetic pattern of expression is different in various affected tissues.
Baker
K S
KS
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Allen
R D
RD
Roths
J B
JB
Sidman
C L
CL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines