The patterns of cytokine mRNA expression in mice with primary or secondary influenza pneumonia have been assessed by in situ hybridization analysis of cells from both the mediastinal lymph node (MLN) and the virus-infected lung. Evidence of substantial transcriptional activity was found in all lymphocyte subsets recovered from both anatomical sites. The kinetics of cytokine mRNA expression after primary infection with an H3N2 virus were in accord with the idea that the initial response occurs in regional lymphoid tissue, with the effector T cells later moving to the lung. This temporal separation was much less apparent for the more rapid secondary response resulting from challenge of H3N2-primed mice with an H1N1 virus. Among the T cell receptor alpha/beta+ subsets, transcripts for interferon (IFN) gamma and tumor necrosis factor beta were most commonly found in the CD8+ population whereas mRNA for interleukin (IL) 4 and IL-10 was much more prevalent in CD4+ T cells. The gamma/delta T cells expressed mRNA for all cytokines tested, with IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma predominating among those recovered from the inflammatory exudate. At particular time points, especially early in the MLN and late in the infected lung, the frequency of mRNA+ lymphocytes was much higher than would be expected from current understanding of the prevalence of virus-specific precursors and effectors. If this response is typical, induction of cytokine gene expression for T cells that are not responding directly to the invading pathogen may be a prominent feature of acute virus infections.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 February 1993
Article|
February 01 1993
Activation of cytokine genes in T cells during primary and secondary murine influenza pneumonia.
S R Carding,
S R Carding
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Search for other works by this author on:
W Allan,
W Allan
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Search for other works by this author on:
A McMickle,
A McMickle
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Search for other works by this author on:
P C Doherty
P C Doherty
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Search for other works by this author on:
S R Carding
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
W Allan
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
A McMickle
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
P C Doherty
Department of Microbilogy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1993) 177 (2): 475–482.
Citation
S R Carding, W Allan, A McMickle, P C Doherty; Activation of cytokine genes in T cells during primary and secondary murine influenza pneumonia.. J Exp Med 1 February 1993; 177 (2): 475–482. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.177.2.475
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionSuggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement