title: Effect of blocking TNF-alpha on intracellular BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) growth in human monocyte-derived macrophages.
abstract: Four agents, thalidomide, oxpentifylline, dexamethasone and a polyclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody, were all shown by specific Elisa to block endogenous TNF-alpha production by Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages in in vitro culture. There was however no significant enhancement of intracellular BCG growth, over a 7-day incubation, in human monocyte-derived macrophages in the presence of any of the TNF-alpha-blocking agents, as determined by both radiometric and CFU counting methods of assessing bacterial viability and growth. The result suggests that the action of TNF-alpha alone is unlikely to be an important effector mechanism in antimycobacterial immunity within human cells.
authors: Department of Immunology, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Fazal
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Lammas
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Raykundalia
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bartlett
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Kumararatne
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000254:growth & development*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010431:Pentoxifylline