Abstract
Cytokine gene activation was assessed during rat adjuvant arthritis (AA) in synovial membrane (SM), popliteal lymph node (popl-LN), and spleen, using semiquantitative, competitive RT-PCR. Changes in the popl-LN were considerably higher than in spleen or SM. In the preclinical phase (day 6), cytokine mRNA elevations occurred exclusively in the popl-LN and included IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10. In the acute phase (days 13–16) all three organs became involved: (i) in the SM, significant elevations were limited to IL-1β and IL-6, which, notably, correlated positively with the degree of arthritis; (ii) in the popl-LN, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 (but not IL-5) were still elevated, while IL-2 rose significantly; (iii) in the spleen, TNF-α peaked simultaneously with the arthritis score (day 16) and dramatically dropped thereafter. Upon transition into the chronic phase (day 20) the following phenomena were observed: (i) IL-1β and IL-6 were still significantly increased in the SM; (ii) IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 were still elevated in the popl-LN; and (iii) there was a progressive rise of IL-5 mRNA in the spleen, positively correlated with the arthritis score. In conclusion, cytokines with pro- and anti-inflammatory functions overlap throughout disease, but in different organ-related patterns. Local (SM) and regional (popl-LN) IL-1β and IL-6, elevated throughout the entire course of AA, may directly contribute to disease severity. While in AA spleen TNF-α appears to be a systemic marker of acute disease, spleen IL-5 may be involved in disease resolution.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.