The 75-kD tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor is specifically up-regulated in monocytes during Q fever endocarditis.

Q fever is an infectious disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular microorganism that inhabits monocytes/macrophages. The dysregulated production of TNF-alpha in Q fever endocarditis has been associated with defective killing of C. burnetii by patient monocytes.

Circulating cytokine balance and activation markers of leucocytes in Q fever.

As Q fever is associated with an inflammatory syndrome, we determined circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines, cytokine antagonists, and activation markers of leucocytes in patients with acute Q fever and Q fever endocarditis. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-6, but not IL-1beta, were markedly increased compared with controls. Cytokine antagonists and activation markers of leucocytes were profoundly different in acute and chronic Q fever.

MHC class I molecules are implicated in costimulatory signals during TCR/CD3-induced activation.

Mouse MHC class I-specific mAbs recognizing the alpha 1/alpha 2, but not those directed against the alpha 3 domain of the molecule, inhibited RNA, protein, and DNA synthesis of splenic T cells in response to stimulation through the TCR/CD3 complex. Similar inhibition was seen with LFA-1-specific mAbs under the same stimulation conditions. The effect of class I- and LFA-1-specific mAbs reflected a decrease of both IL-2 and IFN-gamma synthesis and IL-2 receptor alpha chain induction.

Influence of MHC class I molecules on T-cell proliferation induced by CD3 or Thy-1 stimulation.

We have reported that class I- [and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1-)] specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) inhibit anti-CD3-mediated activation of naive T cells. The present study investigated the mechanism of this inhibition. CD28-specific mAb augmented stimulation induced by soluble CD3 mAb, but this costimulation was also inhibited by anti-class I or anti-LFA-1 mAb.

Class I-specific antibodies inhibit proliferation in primary but not secondary mouse T cell responses.

Murine T and B splenocytes were incubated with antibodies that recognize CD3 or surface IgM. These antibodies induced proliferation of their respective target cells. Once stimulated via their receptors, the proliferation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T but not B lymphocytes was inhibited by class I-specific antibodies or their monovalent Fab' fragments.