Expression of proinflammatory cytokine mRNA in the lymphatic organs of adult and neonatal pigs.
Inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in the lymphatic organs of neonatal, 1-month-old and adult pigs was compared. The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the spleen, thymus, tonsil and popliteal and mesenteric lymph nodes was investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Stronger IL-1beta mRNA expression was observed in the 1-day-old and 1-month-old piglets than in the adult pigs. In thymus, tonsil and mesenteric lymph node, IL-1beta mRNA expression in 1-day-old piglets was stronger than in 1-month-old pigs. The expression of IL-6 mRNA in the 1-day-old and 1-month-old tonsil tended to be stronger than in the adult pigs. IL-18 and TNF-alpha mRNA expression was constant in all the samples examined. The expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA may reflect an inflammatory reaction against the exo- and endogenous foreign bodies occurring in the lymphatic organs, especially in the tonsil, of neonatal piglets.
Mikami
O
O
Toxico-pathology Section, Department of Safety Research, National Institute of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan. mikami@afrc.go.jp
Muneta
Y
Y
Mori
Y
Y
Yokomizo
Y
Y
Nakajima
Y
Y
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger