title: Posttranscriptional down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta production in acute meningococcal infections.
abstract: The regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) production was studied in patients with meningococcal disease. Circulating TNF and IL-1beta normalized within 1 day. TNF mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA in white blood cells decreased over 3-4 days. During the acute stage, TNF and IL-1beta production in stimulated whole blood cultures was down-regulated. After 4-5 days, this production was restored. The down-regulation was unlikely to be caused by circulating IL-6 and IL-10, as these cytokines normalized within 2-3 days. TNF mRNA in stimulated cultures during the acute stage, with down-regulated production, did not differ from that at recovery, with restored production. In contrast, the down-regulated production of IL-1beta was associated with significantly lower IL-1beta mRNA levels. Thus, TNF and IL-1beta production are differentially regulated. Whereas TNF production is regulated posttranscriptionally, IL-1beta production is also regulated at the mRNA level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Deuren
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Netea
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hijmans
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Demacker
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neeleman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Sauerwein
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bartelink
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Meer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003907:Dexamethasone