Cytokine mRNA expression in pigs infected with Schistosoma japonicum

Abstract

The pig is a natural host of Schistosoma japonicum and a useful animal model of human disease. In the present study mRNA levels of Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-10 and IL-4) cytokines were assessed by RT-PCR within tissues from infected pigs. Twelve Danish crossbred pigs were infected by intramuscular injection or orally with 1000 cercariae. Six other pigs served as non-infected controls. Liver and intestinal tissues were collected 10 weeks post-infection, and analysed for their relative levels of cytokine mRNA. Infected pigs developed a Th2 response as characterized by the increased level of mRNA encoding for IL-4 and IL-10 in their large intestine (caecum and colon). In contrast, levels of IFN-gamma did not differ between control and infected animals although variation between animals was observed. When comparing the immune response of orally and intramuscularly infected animals, we found that orally infected pigs produced higher IL-4 and IL-10 levels in their caecum and colon respectively. This stronger Th2 response correlated with a previously reported delay in maturation of infection following oral infection. The cytokine expression levels in tissue samples taken from lesion sites and in nearby areas, without obvious lesions, were then compared. Subsequent to an oral infection, the Th2 type cytokine production was higher in the lesion sites of the liver. In conclusion, this study is the first demonstration of IL-4 and IL-10 cytokine response in pig tissues during S. japonicum infection.

Fermentation products of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> enhance performance and modulate immune response of weaned piglets

“…An extraction of total RNA from spleen tissue was performed using an Ultraspec extraction kit (Biotex, Houston, Texas, USA), followed by reverse transcription of RNA. Primer pairs used for specific amplifications of cDNA of various cytokines have been described previously (Oswald et al, 2001). The PCR products were submitted to electrophoresis in 1% agarose gel containing ethidium bromide and analysed by real-time image capture for quantitative analysis with an internal control of cyclophilin.…”

Host Immune Status Influences the Development of Attaching and Effacing Lesions in Weaned Pigs

“…Briefly, 1 mg of RNA was reverse transcribed (Superscript II RNase H 2; Life Technologies, Eragny, France) and then amplified (Taq DNA polymerase; Promega, Charbonnières, France). Oligonucleotide primers for IL-1␤, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12p40, tumor-necrosis factor ␣ (TNF-␣), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclophilin and the number of PCR cycles selected for each PCR amplification of porcine cytokines and cyclophilin cDNAs were described previously (14,19,43,45). Amplified DNA was analyzed by electrophoresis and quantified densitometrically using the Quantity One program (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.).…”

Role of intestinal epithelial cells in the innate immune defence of the pig intestine

“…For example, weaning has been associated with a transient increase in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α [37,38,54] as well as an increase of TGF-β [40] in different parts of the pig intestine. Similarly, infection with Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Schistosoma mansoni, Toxoplasma gondii or Ascaris suum increased the intestinal expression of inflammatory cytokines [17,19,42,51,67]. However, in these studies the cytokine expression/synthesis has been analysed in whole intestinal samples and the specific involvement of intestinal epithelial cells relative to other cytokine producing cells (dendritic cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes…) has not been described.…”