title: Bovine cytokine expression during different phases of bovine leukemia virus infection.
abstract: The potential role of aberrant cytokine production in the pathogenesis of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was studied by analyzing cytokine mRNA expression in pokeweed-stimulated PBMLs of cows in different phases of disease progression. To analyze the mRNA, a semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay was developed. The RT-PCR assay was developed for detection of IL-2, -4, -6, -10, -12, IFN-gamma and actin using cDNA derived from phorbol-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes. Using a PCR specific for BLV tax, agar gel immunodiffusion and white blood cell counts, BLV-negative, BLV-positive aleukemic (AL), and BLV-positive persistently lymphocytotic (PL) cattle were identified. Peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured in vitro for 24 h in pokeweed mitogen were analyzed for cytokine production using the RT-PCR assay. Consistently elevated levels of IL-2 and IL-12 in AL and PL cattle in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cells was detected, while IFN-gamma was elevated in the AL but not the PL cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology, & Immunology, University of California at Davis 95616, USA. rgkeefe@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ferrick
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016583:Enzootic Bovine Leukosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger