Mycoplasma fermentans enhances concanavalin A-induced apoptosis of mouse splenic T cells

Mycoplasma fermentans, an AIDS-associated mycoplasma, possessed the activity of enhancing concanavalin A-induced apoptosis of T cells purified from mouse spleen by a nylon wool column, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha played an important role in expression of the activity. M. salivarium, an oral mycoplasma, used for comparative purposes also possessed the activity, the level of which was lower than that of M. fermentans.