Meeting Abstract

P3.127  Sunday, Jan. 6  Cytokine Gene Expression and Lymphocyte Expansion During Graft Rejection in Mice MCMICHAEL, J. W. *; FIELD, K. A.; Bucknell University; Bucknell University jm081@Bucknell.edu

The strength and type of immune response triggered by an antigen can be quantitatively measured by determining the gene expression profile of cytokines. By comparing the relative expression of certain cytokine genes, we can determine which subset of T cells are mediating the immune response. Using a model of organ rejection known to depend on a Th2-mediated immune response, we will compare the expression of the signature cytokines for Th1 cells (interferon-g), Th2 cells (interleukin-4), Th17 cells (interleukin-17), Treg cells (TGF-b), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10. We are using skin graft rejection in mice as a model to demonstrate the usefulness of this approach, which then will be extended to non-model species, including bats affected by white-nose syndrome. To cause an immune response, C-57BL/6 mice in a pathogen-free environment received allogeneic MHC II disparate skin grafts from bm12 mice. Graft draining lymph nodes were collected on days 12-14, and the total RNA was isolated for qRT-PCR analysis of gene expression. In addition to analysis of the signature cytokines, a broad spectrum analysis of 80 other cytokines involved in the rejection response will be compared. The resulting total gene expression associated with the T-cell mediated response then can reveal a focused panel of cytokine expression specific to this type of graft rejection. Identifying the relationship between gene expression and lymphocyte cell expansion in laboratory mice during graft rejection can assist in the continued development of research on the immune responses of other diseased mammals. We will be developing a quantitative PCR panel for bat cytokine genes in order to measure the immune responses involved in susceptibility to white-nose syndrome.