title: [Induction by mycoplasmas of tumor necrosis factor-alpha from macrophages].
abstract: Several species of mycoplasmas including M. pneumoniae, the causative agent of human respiratory infection, were investigated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induction. The cytotoxic activity to Meth A cells of peritoneal macrophages purified from BALB/c mice was enhanced markedly when cultured with either viable or nonviable mycoplasmas. The supernatant of macrophage culture mixed with mycoplasmas, M. pneumoniae or A. laidlawii, showed a potent cytotoxic activity to TNF-alpha-sensitive but not to TNA-alpha-insensitive L cells. Addition of anti-TNA-alpha antiserum inhibited completely the cytotoxic activity of the supernatant, indicating that the cytotoxic activity is due mostly to TNF-alpha. These results strongly suggest that mycoplasmas possess an activity to induce TNF-alpha, which enhances the cytotoxic activity of macrophages and prevent infection with mycoplasmas in vivo.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Munakata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuwano
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha