@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-75-4-779, author = "Haagmans, Bart L. and van den Eertwegh, Alfons J. M. and Claassen, Eric and Horzinek, Marian C. and Schijns, Virgil E. C. J.", title = "Tumour necrosis factor-α production during cytomegalovirus infection in immunosuppressed rats", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "1994", volume = "75", number = "4", pages = "779-787", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-75-4-779", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-75-4-779", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "The production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-l and IL-6, all proinflammatory cytokines, was investigated in radiation-immunosuppressed rats infected with rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV). At day 7 post-infection, when the animals showed disease signs, high TNF-α levels were detected in the serum and in homogenates of various organ tissues. In contrast, IL-1 and IL-6 levels were not significantly elevated. Moreover, replication of RCMV induced TNF-α expression in different types of cells grown in vitro. When frozen tissue sections were examined by immunohistology, TNF-α-producing cells were found in areas with extensive pathology in the lungs, spleen and liver. Both lymphocytes and RCMV-infected cells were identified as the sources of TNF-α. Its abundance in RCMV-infected rats suggests an important role for TNF-α in CMV pathogenesis.", }