Weight loss in obese mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is not associated with elevated tumor necrosis factor/cachectin activity in peritoneal macrophages.
C57BL/6 ob/ob (C57 ob/ob) mice infected persistently with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) show cachexia as judged by a weight loss of greater than 20%. Virus persists in a subset of macrophages. Because a cachexic state occurs in several chronic debilitating diseases of humans, often accompanied by persistent microbial infections with macrophage/monocytic involvement and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cachectin production, the role of TNF in the weightloss of ob/ob mice infected persistently with LCMV was investigated. TNF mRNA expression was not increased in peritoneal cells from such persistently-infected mice, nor did their serum levels of TNF rise above those in uninfected litter-mates. Furthermore, in vitro LCMV infection of adherent peritoneal cells from these C57 ob/ob mice did not enhance TNF mRNA or protein expression. Therefore, the cachexia-like weight loss observed in C57 ob/ob mice during a persistent LCMV infection is apparently not associated with a measurable increase in TNF.
Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037.
J L
JL
Lathey
M B
MB
Oldstone
D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002100:Cachexia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha