Tumour necrosis factor-alpha production during cytomegalovirus infection in immunosuppressed rats.
The production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6, all proinflammatory cytokines, was investigated in radiation-immunosuppressed rats infected with rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV). At day 7 post-infection, when the animals showed disease signs, high TNF-alpha levels were detected in the serum and in homogenates of various organ tissues. In contrast, IL-1 and IL-6 levels were not significantly elevated. Moreover, replication of RCMV induced TNF-alpha expression in different types of cells grown in vitro. When frozen tissue sections were examined by immunohistology, TNF-alpha-producing cells were found in areas with extensive pathology in the lungs, spleen and liver. Both lymphocytes and RCMV-infected cells were identified as the sources of TNF-alpha. Its abundance in RCMV-infected rats suggests an important role for TNF-alpha in CMV pathogenesis.
Haagmans
B L
BL
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
van den Eertwegh
A J
AJ
Claassen
E
E
Horzinek
M C
MC
Schijns
V E
VE
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000906:Antibodies; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha