Cytokine gene expression following neural grafts

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 126; no. 3; pp. 281 - 288
• Main Authors: VINE, A. M, JILL LANG, WOOD, M. J. A, CHARLTON, H. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.06.1999
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Caudate Nucleus - metabolism; Caudate Nucleus - physiology; Cytokines - genetics; Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - physiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nerve Tissue - physiology; Nerve Tissue - transplantation; Rats; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transplantation, Heterologous - physiology; Transplantation, Isogeneic; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Interleukin; Cytokine; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Basal ganglion; Transplantation; Gene expression; Heterograft; Survival; Polymerase chain reaction; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Caudate nucleus; Mouse; Transforming growth factor β1; Brain (vertebrata); Gamma interferon
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s002210050737

A reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction study of molecular events following solid neural tissue xenogeneic and syngeneic grafts into the mouse caudate nucleus was made between 1 day and 30 days post-grafting. Constitutive expression of interleukin (IL)-1 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 mRNAs was detected. The sham operation produced minimal cytokine upregulation, indicating that surgical trauma caused minimal damage. A similar picture was seen with syngeneic grafts, which showed good graft survival. Xenografts, however, were rejected within 30 days and cytokine mRNAs for IL-2, IL-2R, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-gamma were detected from 7 days post-graft, correlating with histological identification of a leukocytic infiltrate. This method provides a quick, comparative screen for detecting cytokine mRNA profiles in neural grafts and may assist the diagnosis of early rejection phenomena. As such, it is a potential analytical tool for strategies aimed at depleting/blocking the activity of different cell types and/or cytokines in future neural transplant therapy.