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Journal of Virology, March 1999, p. 2173-2180, Vol. 73, No. 3
Departamento de Sanidad Animal,
Received 30 July 1998/Accepted 2 December 1998
We have analyzed the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha
(TNF-
0022-538X/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
African Swine Fever Virus Infection Induces Tumor
Necrosis Factor Alpha Production: Implications in
Pathogenesis
) 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-
mRNA
expression was detected in ASFV-infected alveolar macrophages, and high
levels of TNF-
protein were detected by ELISA in culture
supernatants from these cells. When animals were experimentally
infected with a virulent isolate (E-75), enhanced TNF-
expression in
mainly affected organs correlated with viral protein expression.
Finally, elevated levels of TNF-
were detected in serum,
corresponding to the onset of clinical signs. TNF-
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-
containing supernatants from
ASFV-infected cultures induced apoptosis in uninfected lymphocytes;
this effect was partially abrogated by preincubation with an
anti-TNF-
specific antibody. These results suggest a relevant role
for TNF-
in the pathogenesis of ASF.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Centro de
Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain. Phone: 34-91-6202300. Fax: 34-91-6202247. E-mail:
ezquerr{at}inia.es.
Journal of Virology, March 1999, p. 2173-2180, Vol. 73, No. 3
0022-538X/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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