Cytokine gene expression in skin and lymphoid organs in graft versus host disease. Issue 4 (April 1993)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rowbottom, A W; Norton, J; Riches, P G; Hobbs, J R; Powles, R L; Sloane, J P
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 46:Issue 4(1993)
• Page Start: 341
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 1993-04
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.46.4.341
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : AIM--To determine if human graft versus host disease (GvHD) is associated with any detectable change in cytokine gene expression in the skin and lymphoid organs. METHODS--Reverse transcriptase and the polymerase chain reaction were used to amplify mRNA for interleukins-1 (IL-1), -2 (IL-2), -4 (IL-4) and -6 (IL-6), IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), tumour necrosis factors alpha (TNF-alpha) and beta (TNF-beta), gamma interferon (IFN gamma) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in frozen punch biopsy specimens of skin and necropsy samples of skin, lymph node, and spleen. RESULTS--No cytokine mRNA was detected in the punch biopsy specimens except weak signals for IL-6 and IL-1 and GM-CSF in two normal donors and IL2-R in one patient with GvHD. In samples of skin taken at necropsy, however, significant quantities of mRNA for TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, and IL-4 were detected in patients who had or had had GvHD in contrast to those without the disease whose skin lacked mRNA for these products but contained detectable quantities of IL-1, IL2-R, IL-6 and GM-CSF. There seemed to be a reciprocal relation between TNF-alpha and IL-4. In necropsy samples of lymph node and spleen a pattern of cytokine production similar to that in the skin was observed with a preponderance of TNF-alpha, TNF-beta and IL-4 in patients with GvHD and GM-CSF and IL-6 in those without the disease. CONCLUSIONS--The local synthesis of these molecules would explain many of the morphological and immunohistological features of GvHD. The failure to detect TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, and IL-4 in skin biopsy specimens exhibiting GvHD is probably due to their small size but further investigations are required.