African swine fever virus infection induces tumor necrosis factor alpha production Implications in pathogenesis

We have analyzed the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) induced by in vitro infection with African swine fever (ASF) virus (ASFV) and the systemic and local release of this inflammatory cytokine upon in vivo infection. An early increase in TNF-α mRNA expression was detected in ASFV- infected alveolar macrophages, and high levels of TNF-α protein were detected by ELISA in culture supernatants from these cells. When animals were experimentally infected with a virulent isolate (E-75), enhanced TNF-α expression in mainly affected organs correlated with vital protein expression. Finally, elevated levels of TNF-α were detected in serum, corresponding to the onset of clinical signs. TNF-α has been reported to be critically involved in the pathogenesis of major clinical events in ASF, such as intravascular coagulation, tissue injury, apoptosis, and shock. In the present study, TNF-α containing supernatants from ASFV-infected cultures induced apoptosis in uninfected lymphocytes; this effect was partially abrogated by preincubation with an anti-TNF-α specific antibody. These results suggest a relevant role for TNF-α in the pathogenesis of ASF.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Gómez del Moral, M., Ortuño, E., Fernández-Zapatero, P., Alonso, F., Alonso, C., Ezquerra Martínez, Ángel, Domínguez, J.
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	American Society for Microbiology 1999
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/1765 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/290304
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!