Tumor necrosis factor alpha is involved in mouse growth and lymphoid tissue development.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a major mediator of inflammation, also possesses a wide pleiotropism of actions, suggesting its involvement in physiological conditions. TNF-alpha mRNA is present in mouse embryonic tissues and also in fetal thymus and spleen. Repeated injections of a monospecific polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse TNF-alpha antibody in mice, starting either during pregnancy or at birth, led to a severe but transient growth retardation, already present at birth, reaching a 35% decrease in body weight at 3 wk, with complete recovery at 8 wk. The insulin growth factor I (IGF-I) blood levels were decreased to about 50%; growth hormone release and other endocrine functions were unaltered. A marked atrophy of the thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes was also observed, with lymphopenia and impaired development of T and B cell peripheral lymphoid structures. The pathways involving TNF-alpha in IGF-I release and early body growth are probably distinct from those by which TNF-alpha participates in early development of lymphoid tissues, where its low physiological release may contribute to enhance lymphoid cell expansion.
de Kossodo
S
S
Department of Pathology, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Grau
G E
GE
Daneva
T
T
Pointaire
P
P
Fossati
L
L
Ody
C
C
Zapf
J
J
Piguet
P F
PF
Gaillard
R C
RC
Vassalli
P
P
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D000906:Antibodies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone