Systemic cytokine profile in feeder pigs suffering from natural postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) as determined by semiquantitative RT–PCR and flow cytometric intracellular cytokine detection

• Published in: Veterinary immunology and immunopathology 2004-05, Vol.99 (1), p.63-71
• Main Authors: Sipos, W, Duvigneau, J.C, Willheim, M, Schilcher, F, Hartl, R.T, Hofbauer, G, Exel, B, Pietschmann, P, Schmoll, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blood Cell Count; Circoviridae Infections - blood; Circoviridae Infections - immunology; Circoviridae Infections - veterinary; Circoviridae Infections - virology; Circovirus - genetics; Circovirus - immunology; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - immunology; Flow cytometry; Flow Cytometry - veterinary; Intracellular cytokine detection; Porcine circovirus; Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2); Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS); Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; RNA, Messenger - chemistry; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RT–PCR; Swine; Swine Diseases - immunology; Swine Diseases - virology; Wasting Syndrome - blood; Wasting Syndrome - immunology; Wasting Syndrome - veterinary; Wasting Syndrome - virology
• ISSN: 0165-2427; 1873-2534
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2004.01.001

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) is an economically important disease in pigs caused by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Development of this disease is presumably associated with an impairment of the immune system. We, therefore, investigated the systemic expression of relevant cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, TNF-α, IFN-γ) and IL-2Rα at mRNA (semiquantitative RT–PCR) and at protein level (flow cytometric intracellular cytokine detection after short-time stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells) in 10 feeder pigs aged 14 weeks suffering from natural PMWS and in 10 clinically healthy pen-mates. Hematological examination revealed a significant ( p