title: Cytokine and chemokine mRNA expressing cells in muscle tissues of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis.
abstract: In-situ hybridization with labeled oligonucleotide probes was applied to explore cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression in sections of striated muscle, the target organ in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), induced in Lewis rats by immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). A transient burst of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA expressing cells was detected during the early phase of EAMG. This cytokine pattern was related to muscular infiltration of macrophages. Levels of IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma, cytolysin and TGF-beta mRNA expressing cells were low and observed mainly during the early phase of EAMG. C-C chemokine RANTES, MCP, MIP-1alpha and MIP-2 mRNA expressing cells were not detected over the course of EAMG. The low and transient expression of cytokines in EAMG muscle tissues suggests that the immune effector responses are unlikely operated by infiltrating cells in muscle. Muscular infiltrations in EAMG are unlikely due to local accumulation of C-C chemokines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger