title: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha immunodetection in blood monocytes and serum: preliminary findings in weight-losing cancer patients.
abstract: The peptide tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a central mediator of the host response. Identifying where and when TNF-alpha is produced may give insights into its potential role in various pathophysiological states. This paper describes a quantitative analysis of TNF-alpha expression in peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) at the single cell level. A pilot study has been undertaken, using this method to assess TNF-alpha expression in PBM from healthy volunteers and cancer patients. We also report mildly elevated serum TNF-alpha levels in the cancer patients, using an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) sensitive to 1 pg/mL of recombinant TNF-alpha. The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that TNF-alpha production may be altered in cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Otago University Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Funamoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha