title: Production of influenza-stimulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha by monocytes following acute influenza infection in humans.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is often measured in the serum or plasma of patients with severe infections, and marked elevation correlates with poor outcome. The relationship of TNF-alpha to protection from disease is frequently not observed because prospective studies of infectious agents are difficult to perform. We took advantage of a human antiviral influenza challenge study to correlate TNF-alpha production with seroconversion and symptom development. TNF-alpha production was measured by ELISA in the plasma compartment or was measured by intracellular production at the single cell level in the monocyte gated population. Monocyte TNF-alpha was associated with asymptomatic seroconversion, whereas there was no change in the plasma at the times measured. Measurement of TNF-alpha at the single cell level by flow cytometry may allow for better differentiation of the protective role of this cytokine in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kallas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Treanor
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000502:physiology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha