Analysis of Cytokine mRNA Induction by Biological Response Modifiers Using the RT-PCR Method

Hiroki Johira

First Department of Surgery, Okayama University Medical School

In order to elucidate the mechanism of cytokine induction by biological response modifiers (BRM), the expression of cytokine mRNA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultured with OK-432 or polysaccharide K (PSK) was serially analyzed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNAs were induced within one hour after stimulation. IL-2 and IFN-γ mRNAs were induced three hours later in OK-432-stimulated PBMC, whereas they were not induced tp to 24 hours later in PSK-stimulated PBMC. Production of cytokine proteins increased 1 to 3 hours after mRNA induction. It is important to consider various host factors when BRM therapy is employed. To investigate individual differences in response to BRM, cytokine mRNA induction in PBMC from OK-432-treated patients was analyzed. In 4 out of 34 intradermally injected patients, multiple cytokine mRNAs were strongly induced. We speculate that these patients may have shown good responses to BRM therapy.

Key words
cytokine mRNA, OK-432, PSK, responder to BRM, PT-PCR

Reprint requests
Hiroki Johira First Department of Surgery, Okayama University Medical School
2-5-1, Shikatacho, Okayama, 700 JAPAN

Accepted
May 8, 1996

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