title: Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira peptidoglycans induce the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha from human monocytes.
abstract: Elevated plasma concentrations of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) have been observed in patients affected by leptospirosis. In this study we found that a preparation of peptidoglycan of Leptospira interrogans, serovar copenhageni, was able to induce the release of TNF alpha from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TNF alpha induction occurred in a dose dependent manner and was not affected by the endotoxin inhibitor polymixin B. This is the first report on induction of TNF alpha release by a peptidoglycan of spirochetes. Our findings are consistent with existing clinical data and provide a potential mechanism for TNF alpha production.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Trieste, Italy. cinco@univ.trieste.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vecile
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dobrina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrina
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014895:Weil Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D010457:Peptidoglycan; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha