Abstract
Johne's disease is a chronic enteritis of cattle and other ruminant species that is of worldwide economic importance. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been associated with granuloma formation and wasting in other disease syndromes. The potential role of these cytokines in the development and progression of Johne's disease has not been investigated. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific bovine oligonucleotide cytokine primers and probes for bovine TNF-α and IL-6, we examined theex vivoexpression of mRNA for these inflammatory cytokines in whole blood from healthy cattle. Cytokine mRNA levels increased after a brief incubation of bovine whole blood withMycobacterium paratuberculosisor its lipoarabinomannan (LAM). Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) andEscherichia coliLPS also stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression. Several strains ofM. paratuberculosiswere tested and found to have similar abilities to stimulate TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression. Several strains of the closely relatedMycobacterium avium, and the unrelated saprophyte,Mycobacterium phlei, had somewhat less ability to stimulate TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression.
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