Cytokine Profile in Tissues and Blood of Sheep Experimentally Infected withMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis

Abstract

Kumar, A.A., Tripathi, B.N. amd Sharma, B. 2010. Cytokine profile in tissues and blood of sheep experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratub.erculosis. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 185-189. The profile of certain cytokines was studied by semiquantification of their mRNA expression by densitometry analysis of RT-PCR products in tissues and blood of sheep experimentally infected with caprine strain of M. a. paratuberculosis. The mRNA transcripts for all cytokines were expressed in tissues and blood. In general expression values were greater in the mesenteric lymph node and blood. In the MLN tissues and blood, IFN-y, TNF-a and IL-4 were significantly increased. The results suggested that expression of cytokines in blood correlated with those in the MLN tissues than in the intestinal tissues. The role of enhanced expression of these cytokines has been discussed in the pathogenesis of paratuberculosis.