title: Cachectin/tumor necrosis factor production by fetal and newborn rat hepatic macrophages.
abstract: The capacity of fetal and newborn hepatic macrophages to produce cachectin/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has not been previously examined. The role that TNF plays in newborn infection is also unknown. In the present report, fetal and newborn rat hepatic macrophages have been maintained in short-term tissue culture, and are shown to produce TNF in response to in-vitro endotoxin stimulation. Cells obtained are morphologically and antigenically consistent with macrophages, and are depleted of accessory cells and lymphocytes. In response to increasing doses of endotoxin, fetal and newborn hepatic macrophages produce TNF, and this production is suppressed fully by pretreatment with dexamethasone. The results demonstrate that fetal and newborn hepatic macrophages possess the capability to produce TNF in vitro. We propose that TNF may play a role in the response of the fetus and newborn to bacterial infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Surgical Metabolism, New York Hospital, New York City.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silen
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Felsen
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Moldawer
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Calvano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seniuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerami
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lowry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha