title: Age-related differential mRNA expression of T cell cytokines in NZB/NZW F1 mice.
abstract: The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-2 receptor-alpha-chain (IL-2R alpha), IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in spleen cells from NZB/NZW F1) mice following the stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A) was examined by Northern blot analysis. Kinetic patterns of the mRNA expression after the stimulation were not different between 2-month-old and 6 to 8-month-old B/W F1 mice. However, relative mRNA expression of IL-2 to a cytoskeletal protein, alpha-Tubulin was lower in 6 to 8-month-old B/W F1 mice than in 2-month-old mice. Similar but not significant tendency was observed in IL-2R mRNA expression. In contrast, Relative IL-4 mRNA expression in 6 to 8-month-old B/W F1 mice was significantly higher than that in 2-month-old animals. On the other hand, no apparent change was observed in IFN-gamma mRNA expression. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that there was no apparent difference in proportion of L3T4 positive T cells in spleen cells from 2 and 6 to 8-month-old B/W F1 mice. These results suggest that mRNA expression of IL-2 and IL-4 differentially changes with aging in autoimmune B/W F1 mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshii
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okudaira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suko
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yago
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4