LEPTOSPIRA-INTERROGANS AND LEPTOSPIRA PEPTIDOGLYCANS INDUCE THE RELEASE OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA FROM HUMAN MONOCYTES

Elevated plasma concentrations of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor a lpha (TNF alpha) have been observed in patients affected by leptospiro sis. In this study we found that a preparation of peptidoglycan of Lep tospira interrogans, serovar copenhageni, was able to induce the relea se of TNF alpha from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TNF alpha ind uction occurred in a dose dependent manner and was not affected by the endotoxin inhibitor polymixin B. This is the first report on inductio n of TNF alpha release by a peptidoglycan of spirochetes. Our findings are consistent with existing clinical data and provide a potential me chanism for TNF alpha production.