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

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<0.001) relative lymphopenia in the diseased animals when compared to reference pigs. IL-1α and IL-10 mRNA levels were notably increased in the affected pigs, whereas IL-2 and IL-2Rα (CD25) mRNA levels tended to be down-regulated. IL-8, TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNA expressions appeared to be slightly increased. Intracellular cytokine levels as measured by flow cytometry revealed an increase of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6, whereas IL-12 and TNF-α expressions were not affected. IFN-γ was slightly decreased in the diseased animals. In conclusion, despite the assumption, that the cellular immune response to PMWS as a virus-induced disease should be characterized by either a Th1 driven cytokine profile or a cytokine profile indicative of T cell immunosuppression, our results did not support that hypothesis. Nevertheless, data from intracellular cytokine detection suggest an even increased percentage of the remaining lymphocytes capable to produce IL-2 upon in vitro stimulation, which is in contrast to the slightly diminished IL-2 mRNA levels reflecting the in vivo situation at least at the mRNA level.