Analysis of cytokine mRNAs in murine herpes simplex virus type 1 retinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cytokine mRNA expression during the inflammatory process induced in the contralateral eyes by uniocular inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) via the anterior chamber.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were inoculated in the anterior chamber with 5 x 10(4) plaque-forming units of HSV-1 (KOS). mRNA was extracted from the inflamed posterior segments of the uninoculated eyes at 0 (control), 9, 11, 14, and 21 days postinoculation (p.i.). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed for semiquantitative analysis of mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, interferon (IFN)gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, transforming growth factor (TGF)beta2 and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).


RESULTS
Peak mRNA expression of iNOS was observed at day 14 p.i. The time profiles of mRNA expression for IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma, TNFalpha were similar to that of iNOS, while TGFbeta2, IL-12p35, and IL-12p40 demonstrated a reverse pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
The kinetics of the analyzed cytokines synchronized with the clinicopathological activity of the experimental murine HSV-1 retinitis. The immunosuppressive cytokines TGFbeta2 and IL-10 demonstrated different peaks of mRNA expressions suggesting that the down-regulation phase of the inflammatory process was controlled by several factors working at different phases.
Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Organ Therapeutics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Kazuko
K
Saitoh-Ishibashi
Kazuki
K
Ishibashi
Atsushi
A
Azumi
Akira
A
Negi
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse