title: Localized multigene expression patterns support an evolving Th1/Th2-like paradigm in response to infections with Toxoplasma gondii and Ascaris suum.
abstract: Human infectious diseases have been studied in pigs because the two species have common microbial, parasitic, and zoonotic organisms, but there has been no systematic evaluation of cytokine gene expression in response to infectious agents in porcine species. In this study, pigs were inoculated with two clinically and economically important parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Ascaris suum, and gene expression in 11 different tissues for 20 different swine Th1/Th2-related cytokines, cytokine receptors, and markers of immune activation were evaluated by real-time PCR. A generalized Th1-like pattern of gene expression was evident in pigs infected with T. gondii, along with an increased anti-inflammatory gene expression pattern during the recovery phase of the infection. In contrast, an elevated Th2-like pattern was expressed during the period of expulsion of A. suum fourth-stage larvae from the small intestine of pigs, along with low-level Th1-like and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. Prototypical immune and physiological markers of infection were observed in bronchial alveolar lavage cells, small intestinal smooth muscle, and epithelial cells. This study validated the use of a robust quantitative gene expression assay to detect immune and inflammatory markers at multiple host tissue sites, enhanced the definition of two important swine diseases, and supported the use of swine as an experimental model for the study of immunity to infectious agents relevant to humans.
authors.affiliation: Nutrient Requirements and Functions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Dept. of Agriculture, Bldg. 307C, Room 214, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
authors.forename: Harry D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Ethiopia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beshah
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Solano-Aguilar
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kathleen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Tonya K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Ledbetter
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubey
authors.forename: Terez
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shea-Donohue
authors.forename: Joan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lunney
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Urban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000378:metabolism; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger