Anatomic site and immune function correlate with relative cytokine mRNA expression levels in lymphoid tissues of normal rhesus macaques.
Reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine pro-inflammatory, anti-viral and immunoregulatory cytokine mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy juvenile, adolescent and adult rhesus macaques. Few age-related changes in cytokine mRNA expression levels were observed. Expression of interleukin 2 and Mx, a type I interferon-inducible gene, decreased with age, whereas interleukin 4 and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) alpha and beta mRNA levels increased in older monkeys. Independent of age, the pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and chemokines] were expressed at higher mRNA levels in PBMC than the immunoregulatory cytokines (interleukins 2, 4, 12). Pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression levels were highest in lymphoid tissues draining mucosal surfaces. Thus, a correlation exists between cytokine mRNA levels in lymphoid tissues and the anatomical site.
Abel
K
K
Center for Comparative Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. kabel@ucdavis.edu
Alegria-Hartman
M J
MJ
Zanotto
K
K
McChesney
M B
MB
Marthas
M L
ML
Miller
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006304:Health Status; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger