Inducible cytokine gene expression in the brain in the ME7/CV mouse model of scrapie is highly restricted, is at a strikingly low level relative to the degree of gliosis and occurs only late in disease

Abstract

The temporal course of cerebral cytokine gene expression was investigated in the ME7/CV murine scrapie model to determine any association with neuropathological events. Analysis by RNase protection assay (RPA) demonstrated no transcripts for ILs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12p40 and 13, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IFN-gamma or lymphotoxin-alpha at any time during the course of this disease. Transcripts for transforming growth factor-beta 1 were constitutively expressed in both control and scrapie-infected brain and were elevated at terminal disease. RPA and quantitative real-time RT-PCR detected low levels of transcripts for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and TNF alpha in scrapie-infe..