title: Cytokine gene expression in splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets of chickens infected with Marek's disease virus.
abstract: Specific-pathogen free chickens were infected with the RB1B strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV) and T cells from the spleens of infected as well as age-matched controls were fractionated by flow cytometry at 4, 10, and 21 days post-infection (d.p.i.). Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to assess the amount of cytokine transcripts as well as viral genes meq and glycoprotein B (gB). There was an increase in the number of CD4(+) T cells, as well as a significant increase in the expression of the viral meq gene in CD4(+) T cells, which coincided with the presence of tumors in various organs of infected birds. It was also observed that there was a significant upregulation in the amount of the gene expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-18, and IL-6 at 4 and 21 d.p.i. in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets. The expression of IL-10 was upregulated as well. The outcome of the cytokine milieu inclined towards the induction of a type I immune response at 4 and 21 d.p.i. Our study indicates that MDV-associated cytokine profiles vary in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets, and that cytokines including IFN-gamma, IL-18, IL-6, and IL-10 may play a role in the elicitation of an immune response to MDV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Payvand
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parvizi
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Mohamed Faizal
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Abdul-Careem
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lusty
authors.forename: Shayan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharif
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines