Ricin induces the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta by human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells.
Ricin induced the release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta by human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The inhibition induced by ricin upon the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-driven lymphocyte proliferation was greater in cultures of mononuclear cells than that observed in monocyte-free cultures of lymphocytes, and was decreased after addition of an anti-TNF-alpha antibody to PHA-activated cultures. Low levels of TNF-alpha were detected in plasma from rats poisoned with ricin. These results suggest that ricin induced the release of macrophage-derived cytokines which may have a role in the pathogenesis of ricin toxic effects.
Dipartimento di Patologia sperimentale dell'Università di Bologna, Italy.
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Licastro
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MC
Morini
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Bolognesi
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Stirpe
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012276:Ricin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D007375:Interleukin-1; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012276:Ricin