RT-PCR Analysis of in Vivo Cytokine Profiles in Murine Allergic Contact Dermatitis to DNCB

Abstract

To elucidate an in vivo cytokine pattern in allergic contact dermatitis, the mRNAs for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, and IFN-gamma were detected in the skin and spleens of mice with allergic contact dermatitis responses to DNCB using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mRNAs for IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-gamma and IL-12 were constitutively expressed in the spleens from control and allergic contact dermatitis mice. Among these cytokines, the mRNAs for IFN-gamma and IL-12p40 were upregulated in mice with allergic contact dermatitis. On the other hand, the mRNAs for IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma were detected only at diseased skin sites of allergic contact dermatitis mice, but not the skin from the control mice. Moreover, both IL-12p35 and IL-12p40 mRNAs were highly expressed in the skin of mice with allergic contact dermatitis responses to DNCB compared with control mice. Therefore, the present study indicates that, in vivo, allergic contact dermatitis mice appear to have a d...