Treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha does not influence the immune pathological response against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in the immunopathological events induced by infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus (LCMV) was assessed by treatment of C57Bl/6 mice with a sheep antibody to murine TNF alpha antiserum to strongly interfere with anti-Listeria host defense. However, despite its effectiveness in Listeria infections in vivo, antibody to TNF alpha used at 6 x 10(4) neutralizing units per day subcutaneously had no detectable influence on the kinetics of maturation of antiviral cytotoxic T-cell activity, inflammatory processes, or clearance of virus. First, onset and severity of LCMV-induced hepatitis, as assessed by cytotoxic T-cell activity, viral titers in the liver, serum liver enzyme values, and histology, were not detectably affected by antibody to TNF alpha. Second, incidence of lethal LCM disease after intracerebral infection and the kinetics of the primary footpad swelling reaction observed after local foot inoculation were not altered by anti-TNF alpha antibody treatment. From the data presented we conclude that TNF alpha as assayed by in vivo therapy with a polyclonal anti-TNF alpha antibody plays no detectable role in the host reaction against LCMV.