title: Strain difference in susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats correlates with T(H)1 and T(H)17-inducing cytokine profiles.
abstract: Albino Oxford (AO) rats are resistant to induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), in contrast to susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) rats. We have previously shown that draining lymph node cells (DLNC) obtained from immunized DA rats before the onset of the clinical disease produced more interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-17 (signature cytokines of T(H)1 and T(H)17 responses, respectively) compared to DLNC from AO rats. In this study, we extend our analysis to entire induction phase of EAE with the emphasis on the T(H)1 and T(H)17-inducing cytokines. As a result, we show that throughout the inductive phase of the disease DLNC of DA rats, not only expressed higher levels of IFN-gamma and IL-17, but also of T(H)1-inducing cytokine-IL-12. As for T(H)17-inducing cytokines, DLNC of DA rats expressed more mRNA for p19, specific subunit of IL-23, but the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in both strains was similar. Interestingly, the analysis of IL-6 expression revealed striking difference: while all DA DLNC were positive for IL-6 mRNA, cells from none of AO rats expressed detectable levels of mRNA for this cytokine. Taken together, our data suggest that the differential regulation of production of T(H)1 and T(H)17 cytokines, and IL-6 in particular, during the induction phase of disease could be responsible for the discrepancy in susceptibility to EAE between these two rat strains.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. milosmarkovic@med.bg.ac.rs
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: Djordje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miljkovic
authors.forename: Miljana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momcilovic
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Popadic
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Miljkovic
authors.forename: Emina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savic
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ramic
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostarica Stojkovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger