Cytokine profiles in pregnant gilts experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and relationships with viral load and fetal outcome

Table 2 Associations between cytokine levels and viral load in serum and tissues following PRRSv infection in pregnant gilts

PRRSv RNA concentration (log₁₀/μL or mg)	Serum cytokine levels (AUC)			PMA/Iono supernatant (AUC)
PRRSv RNA concentration (log₁₀/μL or mg)	IFNα	CCL2	IFNγ	IFNγ
Serum (AUC)	P = 0.003	P < 0.001	ns	ns
Serum (AUC)	β = 0.002134	β = 0.000104	ns	ns
Lung	ns	P = 0.010	ns	ns
Lung	ns	β = 0.000010	ns	ns
Tonsil	P = 0.016	ns	P < 0.001	ns
Tonsil	β = 0.000185	ns	β = −0.000115	ns
Repro LN	ns	ns	ns	P = 0.002
Repro LN	ns	ns	ns	β = −0.0000004

The associations between cytokine levels over time (represented as area under curve (AUC)) and viral load in gilt serum and tissues are presented. P-values (regression coefficients, β) were obtained by univariate, multilevel mixed-effects regression models. Only analytes that were found to be significantly associated with viral load in either serum or any of the tested tissues are included. No association was found among cytokines in supernatants of PRRSv stimulated PBMC and viral load. Repro LN = reproductive lymph node. PMA/Iono supernatant AUC = AUC of IFNγ levels secreted from PMA/Iono stimulated PBMC from PRRSv infected gilts. ns = not significant (P > 0.01).

ISSN: 1297-9716