PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED TNF-LIKE FACTOR FROM RABBIT SERUM

A TNF-like factor was purified from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced N ew Zealand white rabbit serum. The TNF-like factor was purified by DEA E-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-200, Mono-Q, CM-affi gel Blue, Superose 12 H/R preparative columns to the specific activity of 4 x 10(6) U/mg protei n. The purified protein was 45 kDa in its oligomeric form and 22 kDa i n its monomeric form. Rabbit TNF-like factor had a pI value of 5.0 and was resistant to trypsin digestion. The TNF-like factor reacted with polyclonal-Ab against human TNF alpha on immunoblot and immunoprecipit ation analysis and interacted with human TNF receptors. Taken together , rabbit TNF-like factor might be a high molecular weight form of rabb it TNF alpha. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.