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. 1992 Oct;90(1):147–153. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1992.tb05847.x

Characterization of cytokine gene expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after activation with phorbol myristate acetate and phytohaemagglutinin.

J C Leung 1, C K Lai 1, Y L Chui 1, R T Ho 1, C H Chan 1, K N Lai 1
PMCID: PMC1554547  PMID: 1356669

Abstract

Cytokines are important mediators involved in the development of effector cells and in the regulation of immune responses. The gene expression of these mediators in T cell subset has yet to be fully elucidated. Using sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the kinetics of cytokine gene expression in human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were examined. CD4+ T cells were more readily activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) than CD8+ T cells in terms of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) mRNA expression. Quantitative differences in cytokine gene expression between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were confirmed and higher levels of cytokine mRNAs were induced in CD4+ than in CD8+ T cells. Early induction of IL-2 mRNA was observed in both T cell subsets. The demonstration of different kinetics of cytokine gene expression illustrates one of the examples of the complexity of immunoregulation. The differential response of cytokine gene expression in different T cell subsets should be taken into consideration when clinical studies in cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells are interpreted.

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Selected References

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