Expression of the interferon‐inducible chemokines MuMig and Crg‐2 following vaccinia virus infection in vivo

Abstract
MuMig (monokine induced by gamma interferon) and Crg-2 (cytokine responsive gene) are chemokines of the CXC subfamily. They share activity as T and NK cell chemoattractants. Crg-2 has been shown to be inducible by IFN, TNF, IL-1 and LPS, whereas the expression of MuMig is thought to be strictly dependent on IFN-γ. In the present study, the kinetics of expression of the genes for MuMig and Crg-2 were analysed by northern blot analysis in organs of normal mice and in groups of gene knockout mice deficient in IFN-γ (IFN-γ–/–) or receptors for IFN-α/β and IFN-γ (double R–/–; DR–/–) after vaccinia virus infection. MuMig mRNA was not expressed in IFN-γ–/– mice in all organs examined, whereas Crg-2 mRNA levels were marginally reduced. In contrast, MuMig and Crg-2 mRNA transcripts were completely abolished in the DR–/– mice.
Funding Information
  • National Health and Medical Research Council