title: Primary and secondary syphilis lesions contain mRNA for Th1 cytokines.
abstract: Phagocytosis of Treponema pallidum by cytokine-activated macrophages aids bacterial clearance and lesion resolution in early syphilis. To investigate the cytokine profiles of cells infiltrating primary and secondary syphilis lesions, reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect cytokine mRNA in 13 lesion biopsies. Both primary and secondary lesions contained mRNA encoding interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-12p40, and IL-10. In contrast to a lesion from a patient with recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2, no message for IL-4 could be detected in any of the syphilis lesions, and 10 of 13 had no mRNA for IL-5 or IL-13. These findings are consistent with a Th1-predominant local cellular response activating macrophages and support the hypothesis that IFN-gamma-activated macrophages are primary effectors in treponeme clearance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-7185, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Van Voorhis
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Koelle
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nasio
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lukehart
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002601:Chancre / Q000276:immunology*; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger