Quantitation of cytokine mRNA expression as an endpoint for prediction anddiagnosis of xenobiotic-induced hypersensitivity reactions

Xenobiotic-induced hypersensitivity reactions are immune-mediated effects t hat involve specific antibodies and/or effector and regulatory T lymphocyte s. Cytokines are key mediators of such responses and must be considered as possible endpoints far predicting sensitizing potency of drugs and chemical s, as well as for helping diagnosis of allergy. Detecting cytokine producti on at the protein level has been shown to not be always sensitive enough. T his paper describes three examples of the utilization of semiquantitative o r competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of i nterleukin-4, interferon g, and interleukin-1b mRNAs as endpoints for asses sing T-cell or dendritic cell responses to sensitizing drugs (b-lactam anti biotics) or chemicals (dinitrochlorobenzene). (C) 1999 Academic Press.