Protective effects of endotoxin in a rat model of chronic inflammation are accompanied by suppressed secretion of pro inflammatory cytokines … (2006 Oct)
protective effects of endotoxin in a rat model of chronic inflammation are accompanied by suppressed secretion of pro inflammatory cytokines and biphasic alteration in hypothalamo pituitary adrenal axis activity . We have previously demonstrated that Gram negative bacterial endotoxin can exert long term protective effects against the chronic inflammatory disease adjuvant arthritis in rats . The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms and time course of hypothalamo pituitary adrenocortical ( HPA ) axis activity and cytokine secretion underlying this phenomenon . Rats were injected with endotoxin ( lipopolysaccharide ) and blood was collected either 7 or 21 days later . priming with endotoxin induced a biphasic alteration in secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and corticosterone in response to a second injection of endotoxin , with decreased secretion observed after 7 days whereas robust secretion was observed at 21 days . seven days following priming with endotoxin , plasma concentrations of pro inflammatory cytokines interleukin ( IL ) 6 and interferon ( IFN ) gamma were reduced by 90 , and tumour necrosis factor ( TNF ) alpha by 70 , compared to saline treated rats , whereas robust secretion of the anti inflammatory cytokine IL 10 was maintained in both groups . A similar net change favouring an anti inflammatory cytokine secretory milieu was also observed 21 days following priming with endotoxin . This study provides evidence that the long term protective effects of endotoxin on inflammation are associated with a sustained reduction in secretion of pro inflammatory cytokines …

SOCS 1 protects against chlamydia pneumoniae induced lethal inflammation but hampers effective bacterial clearance. (2008 Mar)
SOCS 1 protects against chlamydia pneumoniae induced lethal inflammation but hampers effective bacterial clearance . suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 ( socs1 ) plays a major role in the inhibition of stat1 mediated responses . stat1 dependent responses are critical for resistance against infection with chlamydia pneumoniae . We studied the regulation of expression of socs1 and socs3 , and the role of socs1 during infection with C . pneumoniae in mice . Bone marrow derived macrophages ( BMM ) and dendritic cells in vitro or lungs in vivo all showed enhanced stat1 dependent socs1 mRNA accumulation after infection with C . pneumoniae . infection increased socs1 mRNA levels were dependent on IFN alphabeta but not on IFN gamma . T or B cells were not required for socs1 mRNA accumulation in vivo . infection induced stat1 phosphorylation occurred more rapidly in socs1 ( / ) BMM . In agreement , expression of IFN gamma responsive genes , but not IL 1beta , IL 6 , or TNF alpha were relatively increased in C . pneumoniae infected socs1 ( / ) BMM . surprisingly , C . pneumoniae infection induced IFN alpha , IFN beta , and IFN gamma expression in BMM were attenuated by socs1 . C . pneumoniae infection of RAG1 ( / ) / socs1 ( / ) mice induced a rapid lethal inflammation , accompanied by diminished pulmonary bacterial load and increased levels of iNOS and IDO but not IL 1beta , IL 6 , or …

Neutrophil derived cytokines : potential therapeutic targets in inflammation. (2005 Aug)
neutrophil derived cytokines : potential therapeutic targets in inflammation . polymorphonuclear neutrophils ( PMNs ) are usually thought of as the leukocyte population involved in acute inflammatory responses , acting as a first line of defense against invading microorganisms . these terminally differentiated cells are generally not thought of as an important source of de novo synthesis of polypeptide mediators . recent progress has shown , however , that PMNs are able to synthesize cytokines in response to a variety of inflammatory stimuli and during certain pathological conditions . The expression profiles of PMN derived cytokines are similar with those of monocytes / macrophages , major professional phagocytes . Like monocytes , PMNs are able to secrete proinflammatory cytokines e . g . , tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) alpha and interleukin ( IL ) 1beta , both CC and CXC chemokines e . g . , IL 8 , interferon inducible protein 10 ( IP 10 ) and macrophage inflammatory protein ( MIP ) 1alpha , and angiogenic factors e . g . , vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) . The secretion of cytokines by activated PMNs is regulated by immunoregulatory cytokines such as interferon ( IFN ) gamma , IL 4 , IL 10 and IL 13 . In addition to acute inflammatory responses , PMNs and PMN derived cytokines appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of such chronic inflammatory disorders as rheumatoid arthritis , inflammatory bowel diseases and mycobacterial infections . conceivably , …

IFN gamma and CXCR 1 gene polymorphisms in idiopathic bronchiectasis. (2006 Oct)
IFN gamma and CXCR 1 gene polymorphisms in idiopathic bronchiectasis . idiopathic bronchiectasis is a disease of chronic , bacterial lung infection , unresolving inflammation and progressive lung damage . bronchiectasis can be associated with autoimmune diseases including ulcerative colitis . defects of both innate and adaptive immunity have been proposed . The airway inflammation is characterized by interleukin 8 ( IL 8 ) expression and infiltration by neutrophils and T cells . Here we investigated two candidate gene polymorphisms that may contribute to disease susceptibility : a CXCR 1 ( 2607 G / C ) gene polymorphism that is implicated in IL 8 binding and neutrophil trafficking as well as the interferon gamma ( ifngamma ) ( 874 T / A ) polymorphism which is linked to levels of ifngamma production . these polymorphisms were distributed similarly in the idiopathic bronchiectasis group and controls , suggesting that these two candidate gene polymorphisms are not associated with disease susceptibility .

Induction of allergic inflammation by interleukin 18 in experimental animal models. (2004 Nov)
induction of allergic inflammation by interleukin 18 in experimental animal models . interleukin 18 ( IL 18 ) has been regarded as a proinflammatory cytokine because of its potent interferon gamma inducing activity . however , mutant mice that release excess amounts of IL 18 spontaneously develop pruritic chronic dermatitis like atopic dermatitis ( AD ) , suggesting the importance of IL 18 for the development of AD . intriguingly , depletion of il 18 but not stat6 , an essential transcriptional factor for IL 4 signaling , rescues the mice from AD , indicating IL 18 dependent , T helper 2 ( Th2 ) cell independent AD . This type of AD is classified as innate type allergy in contrast to Th2 cell dependent ordinary allergy . consistent with the previous studies , mice transferred with antigen specific Th1 cells exhibit no airway hyperresponsiveness and respiratory eosinophilic inflammation after challenge with antigen alone . however , they suffer from asthma upon challenge with antigen plus IL 18 , with comparable levels of both the alterations as in those transferred with Th2 cells following challenge with antigen . The former type of asthma is categorized as Th1 associated allergy . therefore , it is definitely necessary to evaluate whether individual allergic disorders involve either of these IL 18 mediated pathways or a Th2 mediated one .

Suppression of cytochrome P450 and UDP glucuronosyl transferase dependent enzyme activities by proinflammatory cytokines and possible role of nitric oxide … (1996 Oct)
suppression of cytochrome P450 and UDP glucuronosyl transferase dependent enzyme activities by proinflammatory cytokines and possible role of nitric oxide in primary cultures of pig hepatocytes . proinflammatory cytokines play an important role in the depression of cytochrome P450 ( cyp450 ) dependent drug metabolism in mammals during inflammation and infection . although much has been learned concerning the effects and mechanisms of cytokine mediated suppression of cyp450 , there is limited knowledge about how cytokines affect UDP glucuronosyl transferases ( udpgt ) . The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and dose dependency of recombinant human proinflammatory cytokines on both cyp450 and udpgt dependent enzyme activities in primary cultures of pig hepatocytes . A possible role of nitric oxide in cytokine induced suppression of enzyme activities was studied by incubating hepatocytes in the presence of N G nitro L arginine ( L NAME ) , a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide ( NO ) biosynthesis . incubation of hepatocytes with interleukin 1alpha ( IL 1alpha ) , interleukin 6 ( IL 6 ) , and tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF alpha ) decreased both oxidation and glucuronidation activities dose dependently , in which the effects on glucuronidation activities were even more pronounced . IL 6 differed from IL 1alpha and TNF alpha by inhibiting cyp450 and udpft more effectively after 24 hr of incubation , whereas the inhibition by IL 1alpha and TNF alpha was more pronounced after 12 hr . Only at a …

Detection of serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines and its significance in neonates with cytomegalovirus pneumonia objective : To investigate changes … (2008 Mar)
detection of serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines and its significance in neonates with cytomegalovirus pneumonia objective : To investigate changes in the levels of Th2 cytokine interleukin 4 ( IL 4 ) , Th1 cytokine interferon gamma ( IFN gamma ) , and TNF alpha in serum of newborn infants with cytomegalovirus ( CMV ) pneumonia . methods : twenty five neonatal cases who were positive for serum IgM antibody to CMV by elisa were divided into IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group , and 15 healthy neonates were enrolled into the control group . The levels of IL 4 , IFN gamma , and TNF alpha were detected by using double antibody elisa for the control group and the intervention groups at the beginning and end of treatment . results : The levels of IFN gamma and TNF alpha in patients with CMV pneumonia were higher than that in the healthy neonates , while the levels of IL 4 were lower ( t 2 . 65 and 3 . 16 , p less than 0 . 05 ) . The level of IL 4 in patients with CMV pneumonia was significantly lower than that of the healthy neonates ( t 2 . 49 , p less than 0 . 05 ) . there was no significant difference in the levels of IFN gamma , IL 4 and TNF alpha between IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group at the beginning of treatment ( t 1 . 85 , …

The contribution of interleukin 13 and 15 to the cytokine network within normal and diseased gingiva. (2007 Apr)
The contribution of interleukin 13 and 15 to the cytokine network within normal and diseased gingiva . background : there are no comparisons of concentrations of interleukin ( IL ) 13 and 15 and gingival sulcular depth within healthy or inflamed gingiva . study of non oral inflammations indicated that IL 15 has similar functions to IL 2 , and IL 13 has similar functions to IL 4 and 10 . Thus , IL 13 and 15 likely have a function in gingival inflammation . methods : We compared the concentrations of IL 13 and 15 within healthy or inflamed human gingiva to gingival sulcular depth and the concentration of various T helper 1 and T helper 2 cytokines in a group of hispanic subjects . gingival papillae were grouped by the depth of the adjacent gingival sulcus : or 3 mm ( normal ) ; 3 to 6 mm and 6 mm ( diseased ) . The gingival concentrations of IL 2 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 13 , and 15 and interferon ( IFN ) gamma were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay . results : IL 2 , 4 , 6 , 10 , and 13 and IFN gamma concentrations were higher within gingiva adjacent to 3 to 6 mm diseased compared to normal ; IL 15 concentrations were significantly greater within normal gingiva than within diseased gingiva ( P 0 . 001 ) . within gingiva adjacent to 6 mm sulci , IL 6 …

Gamma interferon modifies guinea pig airway functions in vitro. (1994 Apr)
gamma interferon modifies guinea pig airway functions in vitro . cytokines produced by T lymphocytes may have significant roles in the airway inflammation seen in bronchial asthma . gamma interferon ( IFN gamma ) , a T cell derived cytokine , is known to modify functions of both immune and non immune cells . In this study , we investigated whether IFN gamma can modify guinea pig airway functions in vitro . The isometric tension of guinea pig airway strips was measured in a tissue bath filled with krebs henseleit solution . contracting responses to carbachol and KCl , and the relaxing response to isoproterenol ( ISO ) were examined . effects of IFN gamma were examined by comparing responses of the strips incubated with or without IFN gamma ( 1000 U . ml 1 ; 25 , 000 U . ml 1 ) . contracting responses to carbachol and KCl were not affected by the incubation with IFN gamma other than slight increased in maximum contraction by carbachol after 5 hours incubation with 25 , 000 U . ml 1 of IFN gamma . Both 1 and 5 h incubation of strips with 25 , 000 U . ml 1 IFN gamma significantly increased the sensitivity to ISO ( p 0 . 01 and p 0 . 05 , respectively ) without affecting maximum relaxation . The effect of IFN gamma on ISO relaxation was abolished by the denudation of airway epithelium from strips , indomethacin ( 2 microm …

Th1 / Th2 cytokine profiles in the nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissues of children with recurrent otitis media. (1998 Feb)
Th1 / Th2 cytokine profiles in the nasopharyngeal lymphoid tissues of children with recurrent otitis media . The cytokine profile in adenoidal lymphoid tissue was studied in 22 patients . lymphocytes from adenoid tissues and peripheral blood were submitted for cytokine assays using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit for interferon gamma , interleukin ( IL ) 2 , IL 4 , IL 5 , IL 6 , and IL 10 . adenoidal lymphocytes appear to produce significantly less Th1 cytokines ( IL 2 , interferon gamma ) compared to the patient s peripheral blood lymphocytes , whereas IL 4 and IL 5 ( Th2 cytokines ) appear to be synthesized to the same extent as , if not slightly more than , in the homologous peripheral blood lymphocytes . because the relationship between Th1 and Th2 cytokines is extremely important in modulating the immune response , it is advisable to determine the role of the cytokine profiles of T lymphocytes in the nasopharynx and its relationship to the development of inflammation of the eustachian tube and middle ear .

Signaling by IL 12 and IL 23 and the immunoregulatory roles of stat4. (2004 Nov)
signaling by IL 12 and IL 23 and the immunoregulatory roles of stat4 . produced in response to a variety of pathogenic organisms , interleukin ( IL ) 12 and IL 23 are key immunoregulatory cytokines that coordinate innate and adaptive immune responses . these dimeric cytokines share a subunit , designated p40 , and bind to a common receptor chain , IL 12R beta 1 . The receptor for IL 12 is composed of IL 12R beta 1 and IL 12R beta 2 , whereas IL 23 binds to a receptor composed of IL 12R beta 1 and IL 23R . Both cytokines activate the janus kinases Tyk2 and Jak2 , the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 ( stat4 ) , as well as other stats . A major action of IL 12 is to promote the differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into T helper ( Th ) 1 cells , which produce interferon ( IFN ) gamma , and deficiency of IL 12 , IL 12R subunits or stat4 is similar in many respects . In contrast , IL 23 promotes end stage inflammation . targeting IL 12 , IL 23 , and their downstream signaling elements would therefore be logical strategies for the treatment of immune mediated diseases .

Interleukin 1beta , interleukin 12 and interleukin 18 levels in gingival fluid and serum of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. (2006 Jul)
interleukin 1beta , interleukin 12 and interleukin 18 levels in gingival fluid and serum of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis . introduction : cytokines are of major importance in periodontal disease progression . interleukin 12 ( IL 12 ) stimulates interferon gamma production by T helper type 1 ( Th1 ) cells while IL 18 induces Th1 responses when present with IL 12 but Th2 responses in the absence of IL 12 . IL 1beta has been correlated with periodontal disease destruction . This study determined the local concentrations of these cytokines in sites of gingivitis and periodontitis . methods : gingival crevicular fluid was collected from two sites in each of 10 gingivitis patients and from two gingivitis sites and two periodontitis sites from each of 10 periodontitis patients . serum samples were also collected . IL 1beta , biologically active IL 12 p70 , the IL 12 p40 subunit and IL 18 concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay . results : IL 1beta and IL 18 concentrations were higher in the gingival crevicular fluid from periodontitis patients than in that from gingivitis patients ; IL 18 concentrations were higher than those of IL 1beta . Very little IL 12 , either p40 or p70 , was detected in the gingival crevicular fluid samples . In the serum , very low levels of cytokines were found . The level of serum IL 12 p40 , however , was higher than in the fluid from periodontitis sites of …

Cytokine and antibody responses in gnotobiotic pigs after infection with human norovirus genogroup II. (2007 Aug)
cytokine and antibody responses in gnotobiotic pigs after infection with human norovirus genogroup II . 4 ( HS66 strain ) . A human norovirus genogroup II . 4 strain HS66 ( hunov HS66 ) infects and causes mild diarrhea in gnotobiotic ( Gn ) pigs ( S . cheetham , M . souza , T . meulia , S . grimes , M . G . Han , and L . J . Saif , J . virol . 80 : 10372 10381 , 2006 ) . In this study we evaluated systemic and intestinal humoral and cellular immune responses to hunov HS66 in orally inoculated pigs . antibodies and type I interferon ( IFN I or IFN alpha ) , proinflammatory interleukin 6 ( IL 6 ) , Th1 ( IL 12 and IFN gamma ) , Th2 ( IL 4 ) , and Th2 / regulatory T ( T ( reg ) IL 10 ) cytokine profiles in serum and intestinal contents ( IC ) of the hunov HS66 inoculated pigs and controls were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay at selected postinoculation days ( 0 to 28 ) . using an enzyme linked immunospot assay , we evaluated immunoglobulin M ( IgM ) , IgA , and IgG antibody secreting cells ( ASC ) and cytokine secreting cells ( CSC ) in intestine , spleen , and blood . In the hunov inoculated pigs , antibody titers in serum and IC were generally low , and 65 …

Monocyte activation : rapid induction of alpha 1 / beta 1 ( VLA 1 ) integrin expression by lipopolysaccharide and … (1995 Nov)
monocyte activation : rapid induction of alpha 1 / beta 1 ( VLA 1 ) integrin expression by lipopolysaccharide and interferon gamma . monocytes play a key role in inflammation , tissue injury and remodelling and wound healing , and most monocyte effector functions are dependent on adhesive interactions . We have analyzed the changes in the pattern of beta 1 integrin expression that take place during monocyte activation and demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) and interferon ( IFN ) gamma specifically induce the expression of the alpha 1 / beta 1 integrin , which was detectable on the monocyte membrane as early as 12 h after monocyte activation . The up regulated alpha 1 / beta 1 expression was not dependent on monocyte adherence to solid surfaces , and northern blot analysis revealed that LPS and IFN gamma induce the alpha 1 mRNA de novo . monocyte deactivating cytokines such as interleukin ( IL ) 4 or IL 10 , could only minimally inhibit the LPS or IFN gamma mediated up regulation of alpha 1 / beta 1 , suggesting that cytokine release subsequent to monocyte activation does not play a major role in the integrin induction . interestingly , the LPS induced expression of alpha 1 / beta 1 was found to be dependent on the redox state of the cell , since it was inhibited by antioxidants which also altered the morphological changes that take place during monocyte culture in vitro . The rapid induction of …

Cytokines regulate vascular functions related to stability of the atherosclerotic plaque. (1996 Sep)
cytokines regulate vascular functions related to stability of the atherosclerotic plaque . The cytokines are multipotent mediators of inflammation and immunity that can affect key functions of vascular wall cells . growing evidence suggests that cytokines participate as autocrine or paracrine mediators in atherogenesis , as cells in lesions can both produce and respond to these mediators . The functions of vascular wall cells regulated by cytokines may influence lesion initiation , progression , or complication . For example , cytokines can regulate the expression of adhesion molecules crucial to the recruitment of leukocytes to lesions , including vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 ( VCAM 1 ) . cytokines such as interleukin 1 ( IL 1 ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF alpha ) can regulate the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 ( MCP 1 ) , a potential signal for directed migration of monocytes into the intima . cytokines can also regulate genes that encode other growth factors and cytokines themselves . TNF alpha can induce IL 1 mRNA in human endothelial ( EC ) and smooth muscle cells ( SMC ) . IL 1 and TNF alpha can augment the production by vascular cells of macrophage colony stimulating factor ( M CSF ) , which may promote growth and activation of mononuclear phagocytes . cytokines can exert both pro and antiatherogenic actions . activated T cells in human atheroma may secrete the lymphokine IFN gamma , an inhibitor of SMC proliferation . cytokines influence vasomotor …

Effects of fungal beta glucan and interferon gamma on the secretory functions of murine alveolar macrophages. (1996 Sep)
effects of fungal beta glucan and interferon gamma on the secretory functions of murine alveolar macrophages . We investigated the effect of a fungal component , soluble beta glucan , on secretory functions of murine alveolar macrophages ( AMs ) in vitro . stimulation by beta glucan ( 500 microg / mL ) or interferon gamma ( IFN gamma ; 100 U / mL ) alone had a slight effect on AM functions , but when AMs were incubated together with beta glucan and IFN gamma , the production and secretion of some immune mediators , such as nitric oxide , interleukin 1 ( IL 1 ) , IL 6 , and tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF alpha ) , were markedly augmented . This combined effect of beta glucan and IFN gamma was based on a priming effect of IFN gamma , because prestimulation with IFN gamma followed by beta glucan induced high nitric oxide production of AMs , but reversal of the sequence of treatments had only a slight effect . We also found that preincubation of AMs with IFN gamma enhanced the binding of fluorescein labeled beta glucan on the AM surface , and this increased binding was abrogated to the control level by the addition of three species of soluble unlabeled ( 1 3 ) beta D glucans but not by soluble alpha glucan . these data imply that the priming effect of IFN gamma on the AM response to beta glucan was dependent , …

Pathogenic role of interleukin 6 in the development of sepsis. (2003 May)
pathogenic role of interleukin 6 in the development of sepsis . Part II : significance of anti interleukin 6 and anti soluble interleukin 6 receptor alpha antibodies in a standardized murine contact burn model . objective : The in vivo effects of anti interleukin 6 ( anti IL 6 ) and anti interleukin 6 alpha receptor ( anti IL 6R ) monoclonal antibodies on immune response and survival rate of a burn with subsequent infection were assessed . subjects : Ten week old C 57 BL / 6J mice received a standardized contact burn ; 48 hrs later endotoxin ( LPS ) was injected intraperitoneally to induce systemic inflammation . Ten different groups were studied . groups I IV sustained a burn and / or a LPS stimulus but did not receive any anti cytokines and served as controls . treatment groups V X sustained the same injuries but also received anti IL 6 and anti IL 6R intravenously either before or after the LPS stimulus . In a further part of the study , a lethal dose of LPS was injected ( LPS LD ( 100 ) group ) followed by an injection of anti IL 6 antibody and / or anti IL 6R antibody . measurements : serum concentrations of IL 6 , tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) alpha , interferon ( IFN ) gamma , and white blood cell and platelet counts were determined , and the survival rate over a 2 wk period was assessed …

A nitric oxide synthase inhibitor reduces inflammation , down regulates inflammatory cytokines and enhances interleukin 10 production in carrageenin induced … (1994 Nov)
A nitric oxide synthase inhibitor reduces inflammation , down regulates inflammatory cytokines and enhances interleukin 10 production in carrageenin induced oedema in mice . Mice injected in the footpad with carrageenin developed local inflammation which peaked at 48 hr . This delayed type footpad swelling was significantly reduced in mice injected intraperitoneally ( i . p . ) with a specific nitric oxide ( NO ) synthase inhibitor , L ngmonomethyl arginine ( L NMMA ) . The draining lymph node ( DLN ) cells from mice injected 48 hr previously with carrageenin produced significantly higher levels of proliferation and interleukin 1 ( IL 1 ) , IL 2 , IL 6 and interferon gamma ( IFN gamma ) , but less IL 10 , compared to cells from saline injected controls , when stimulated with concanavalin A ( Con A ) in vitro . treatment of the carrageenin injected mice with L NMMA had little effect on the proliferative response of the DLN cells , but significantly reduced the production of IL 1 , IL 2 , IL 6 and IFN gamma , and increased the secretion of IL 10 . these data demonstrate that NO plays a significant role in local inflammation and the pattern of cytokines induced in this model .

Expression of a single chain human interleukin 12 gene in transgenic tobacco plants and functional studies. (2004 Mar)
expression of a single chain human interleukin 12 gene in transgenic tobacco plants and functional studies . interleukin 12 ( IL 12 ) is a key heterodimeric cytokine produced by a variety of antigen presenting cells , including dendritic cells , macrophages , and B cells . It displays a potent array of biological activities affecting natural killer ( NK ) and T cells . these activities include promotion of cell mediated or type 1 T helper cell responses ( Th1 ) . Due to that property , IL 12 has been employed in cancer immunotherapy , in mouse models of infectious diseases and in airway inflammation , and it may also have utility as a vaccine adjuvant . transgenic plants are being used in many laboratories around the world for the production of therapeutically valuable proteins and as vehicles for oral vaccines . Here we present the expression of a single chain human interleukin 12 in transgenic tobacco plants . The biological activity of plant produced IL 12 was determined by interferon gamma ( IFN gamma ) production by natural killer ( NK ) cells , and the level of production was comparable to that obtained with commercially available recombinant IL 12 . The potential use of this recombinant protein is discussed .

Immunohistochemical detection of interleukin 12 and interferon gamma in pigs experimentally infected with mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. (2007 Feb)
immunohistochemical detection of interleukin 12 and interferon gamma in pigs experimentally infected with mycoplasma hyopneumoniae . The expression of interleukin 12 ( IL 12 ) and interferon gamma ( IFN gamma ) was examined immunohistochemically in the lungs of pigs aged 21 days infected experimentally with mycoplasma hyopneumoniae ( Mh ) . Ten pigs were inoculated intranasally with Mh and killed in pairs weekly from 7 to 35 days post infection ( dpi ) . immunolabelling for IL 12 and IFN gamma was usually associated with inflammation , particularly in macrophages and lymphocytes in the thickened alveolar septa and in the hyperplastic bronchus associated lymphoid tissue ( BALT ) . cells positive for both cytokines were detected at 7 dpi , their numbers increasing at 14 and 21 dpi , and slightly decreasing thereafter . The results suggest that IL 12 and IFN gamma play a role in pulmonary defence mechanisms against Mh infection .