Quantitative analysis of cytokine gene expression in the liver.
The relative levels of cytokine gene expression in the liver were analysed, focusing on IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IFN-gamma compared to those in the spleen and Peyer's patch by using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The levels of expression of cytokines in the liver mononuclear cells (MNC). especially that of IL-6, were significantly higher than in other organs when mice were reared under specific pathogen-free (SPF) or conventional conditions. Both the spleen and Peyer's patch MNC expressed little of any of the cytokines, except for IL-4 in Peyer's patch MNC. The liver MNC produced significant amounts of IL-6 in the culture supernatant upon concanavalin A stimulation. These findings suggest that the liver is a potent IL-6-producing organ, which may relate to B cell differentiation, liver regeneration and the induction of acute phase proteins.
Takahashi
M
M
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
Nishimura
T
T
Yokomuro
K
K
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines