APOPTOSIS OF LYMPHOCYTES IN MICE ADMINISTERED LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE FROMLEPTOSPIRA-INTERROGANS

We report that administration of leptospiral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice results in massive surface marker changes in the lymphocytes o f the spleen. It appears that many of these changes relate to the larg e number of cells undergoing apoptosis. It is also shown that tumor ne crosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces similar effects and is produce d in large quantities after injection of leptospiral LPS. It is likely that cytokines such as TNF-alpha are involved in apoptosis.