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Serum TNF alpha inhibitor in mouse typhoid.
P Mastroeni1, B Villarreal, R Demarco de Hormaeche
1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, U.K.
Microbial Pathogenesis
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) is crucial for controlling Salmonella infections in mice. Blocking TNF alpha worsened infections, while inhibitory activity appeared later, suggesting a complex role in immune response.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) plays a role in innate immunity against bacterial infections.
- The reticuloendothelial system (RES) is critical for controlling Salmonella growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TNF alpha in Salmonella typhimurium infection in BALB/c mice.
- To characterize TNF alpha and its inhibitory activity during different infection severities.
Main Methods:
- Administration of anti-TNF alpha antiserum to sublethally infected mice.
- Monitoring of TNF alpha levels and inhibitory activity in mouse sera at various time points.
- Infection with different strains and doses of Salmonella typhimurium.
Main Results:
- Anti-TNF alpha treatment enhanced Salmonella infection, highlighting TNF alpha's protective role.
- Low, transient TNF alpha levels were observed in some sublethally infected mice.
- TNF alpha inhibitory activity was detected later in sublethal infections and in a cachectic syndrome model.
- Neither TNF alpha nor inhibitory activity were detected in lethal Salmonella infections.
Conclusions:
- TNF alpha is essential for early control of Salmonella growth in the RES.
- The presence of TNF alpha inhibitory activity suggests complex regulatory mechanisms in Salmonella infections.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of TNF alpha and its inhibitors in host defense against Salmonella.