STAT mRNA kinetics in the central nervous system during autoimmune encephalomyelitis in lewis rats |
Young-heun Jee1, In-sun Hwang1, Tae-kyun Shin1, Chang-jong Moon1, Yoon-kyu Lim1, In-kyu Yeo2, Hwa-young Son3 |
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cheju National University 2Faculty of Applied Marine Science, Cheju National University 3College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University |
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Abstract |
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system, we examined the expression and localization of STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 and STAT6 molecules during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by competitive PCR. In the present study, we quantitated IL-4 and IL-12 p40 mRNA by competitive PCR in the CNS during EAE. IL-4 mRNA was found at early and peak stages. On the other hand, the IL-12 p40 mRNA level reached maximal levels at the peak stage and still found at the recovery stage of the disease. We examined the kinetics of STAT mRNA in the CNS during EAE and demonstrated that STAT1 and STAT4 mRNA reached a maximal level at the peak stage of EAE, whereas STAT3 mRNA level increased gradually to the recovery stage. STAT6 mRNA increased rapidly at the early stage followed by gradual decrease till the recovery stage. Taken together, these findings suggest that STAT4 which was probably activated by IL-12 plays a pro-inflammatory role and that STAT3 which was activated throughout the disease course seems to serve as a transducer of anti-inflammatory signals. |
Key Words:
STAT mRNA, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, cytokine |
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