The expression of cytokine mRNA in the cauda equina of Lewis rats with experimental allergic neuritis

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 223 - 229
• Main Authors: Fujioka, Toshiki, Jimi, Takahiro, Hilliard, Brendan A, Ventura, Elvira S, Rostami, Abdolmohamad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.04.1998
• Subjects: Actins - genetics; Animals; Cauda Equina - immunology; Cytokine; Cytokines - genetics; Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN); Female; Gene Expression - immunology; Interferon-gamma; Interferon-gamma - genetics; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-10 - genetics; Interleukin-10 - immunology; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-4 - genetics; Interleukin-4 - immunology; Lewis rat; Messenger RNA; Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental - immunology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Lewis rat; Messenger RNA; Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN); Interleukin-10; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Cytokine
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/S0165-5728(97)00252-X

Autoreactive CD4+ T cells can transfer experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) to naive recipients. In order to further analyze the role of these T cells and their corresponding cytokines in EAN, we studied the expression of mRNA for IFN- γ, IL-4, and IL-10 in the cauda equina of rats with EAN using a quantitative competitive reverse transcriptase PCR method. Nerves were studied on days 0 (pre-immunization), 10 (disease onset), 13 (clinical progression), 16 (disease peak), as well as 20, 24, and 34 post immunization (recovery). IFN- γ messages increased at disease onset and peaked at day 13 p.i. IL-10 message remained at a very low level at disease onset and surged at day 16. Both messages were low in recovery stage. IL-4 message was undetectable at any time point. These data suggest a pro-inflammatory role of IFN- γ and anti-inflammatory role of IL-10 in EAN lesions. It is also possible that a clonal switch from Th1 to Th2 occurs in EAN lesions during the disease course.