title: Species-specific TNF induction of thymocyte proliferation.
abstract: Recombinant murine (rMu) tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in a standard comitogenic assay with phytohemagglutinin, induced murine thymocyte proliferation, while up to 10,000-fold higher concentrations of recombinant human TNF did not. The induction of thymocyte proliferation was dependent upon TNF concentration in a biphasic manner. Thus, 100 to 1,000 units/ml TNF were near optimal while concentrations greater than or equal to 1,000 units/ml caused apparent down regulation. The effect was abrogated by neutralizing antibody to rMu-TNF but not by neutralizing antibody to rMu-interleukin 1 alpha or beta. The rMu-TNF did not induce proliferation of the mature murine T-helper cell line, D10.G4.1, in the presence of mitogen. Taken together the results indicate that TNF, in a strictly species-specific manner, can regulate thymocyte proliferation independently of interleukin 1.
authors.affiliation: Grace Cancer Drug Center, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ehrke
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha