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. 1997 Jan;65(1):257–260. doi: 10.1128/iai.65.1.257-260.1997

Role of tumor necrosis factor alpha in pathogenesis of pneumococcal pneumonia in mice.

K Takashima 1, K Tateda 1, T Matsumoto 1, Y Iizawa 1, M Nakao 1, K Yamaguchi 1
PMCID: PMC174584  PMID: 8975920

Abstract

The production and role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in pneumococcal pneumonia were investigated in a mouse pneumonia model. When approximately 10(6) CFU of Streptococcus pneumoniae TUM19 were used to inoculate CBA/J mice intranasally, TNF-alpha levels in the lungs and serum began to increase from 1 and 3 days after infection, respectively, concomitantly with the increase in bacterial counts in the lungs. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody accelerated bacterial proliferation in the blood and the death of the mice. Although serum levels of immunoglobulin G antibody against the infecting bacteria were not affected by the anti-TNF-alpha antibody treatment, neutrophil counts in the blood were decreased by the treatment. These results suggest that TNF-alpha produced in the course of pneumococcal pneumonia prevents bacteremia by increasing the number of neutrophils in the blood.

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Selected References

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