title: Cytokine expression in meconium-induced lungs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this article the authors present relationship between meconium exposure and inflammatory cytokine release in newborn lungs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used forty 2-week-old rabbit pups for the study. One-half of the group were instilled with meconium and the other half with saline. Rabbits were sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hrs after installation and lung lavage was obtained and was examined for cytokine mRNA expression using RT-PCR and for cytokine proteins using ELISA technique. The data were collected in each of the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Meconium instillation caused significant expression of inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha, IL-6, and IL-8 (p < 0.05) with a peak at 8 hrs after meconium instillation. Levels of IL-10 were insignificant (p > 0.05). Also, we found significant increase in necrotic cells and neutrophils (p < 0.05), compared to the control, saline instilled rabbit lungs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present studies demonstrates that meconium induces inflammatory response and cytokines gene and protein expression in the lungs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago 60612-7324, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zagariya
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Shankararao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navale
authors.forename: Dharmapuri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vidyasagar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008470:Meconium; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger