Cytokine patterns associated with a serotype 8 fowl adenovirus infection

This study examined cytokine gene expression patterns associated with fowl adenovirus (FAdV) infection. The selected cytokine mRNA was quantified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR in spleen, liver, and cecal tonsil during the course of infection of chickens with a serotype 8 FAdV (FAdV-8). Compared to uninfected chickens, infected birds had higher mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-10 in spleen and liver, respectively. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) mRNA expressed in spleen and liver of infected chickens was significantly upregulated, while the expression of IL-8 mRNA in spleen and liver of infected chickens was significantly downregulated. There was no significant difference between infected and uninfected groups in terms of cytokine gene expression in cecal tonsil. These results indicate that these four cytokines might play an important role in driving the immune responses following FAdV-8 infection.