Production of tumor necrosis factors alpha and beta by human mononuclear leukocytes stimulated with mitogens, bacteria, and malarial parasites.

Tumor necrosis factors alpha and beta (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta) are multifaceted polypeptide cytokines which may mediate some of the significant changes in cellular homeostasis which accompany the invasion of the mammalian host by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Although it is well established that bacterial lipopolysaccharide is a potent inducer of TNF-alpha, there is still very little known of the types of agents which can trigger the production of TNFs in mononuclear leukocytes. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, we examined the capacity of various T-lymphocyte and beta-lymphocyte mitogens as well as microbial components to stimulate production of these cytokines in culture. The mitogens phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen induced production of both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta, while whole-killed Staphylococcus aureus and Bordetella pertussis, like lipopolysaccharide, were potent inducers of TNF-alpha but failed to stimulate TNF-beta production. TNF-alpha production was detectable within 1 h after stimulation, while TNF-beta production was not detected until after 8 h of culture. The bacterial products tetanus toxoid, purified protein derivative, pertussis filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertussis toxin were all able to induce TNF-alpha and TNF-beta production. Disrupted (frozen-thawed) Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes were also potent inducers of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta. The results demonstrated that a wide variety of microbial components are inducers of TNF-alpha. Some may not only be more effective than lipopolysaccharide but can also induce TNF-beta production. Furthermore, evidence is presented showing that TNF-beta but not TNF-alpha production correlates with lymphoproliferation.