[The effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor on antibody formation in mice immunized with a preparation of the outer membranes from Francisella tularensis].

The influence of exogenic human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) on antibody production in mice immunized with the preparation of F.tularensis outer membranes (OM) was studied. TNF-alpha was injected into mice in doses of 0.001-10 I.U. before and simultaneously with the injection of the preparation of F.tularensis OM. The levels of tularemia antibodies, determined by ELISA techniques, and the number of antibody-producing cells (APC) were studied. The study revealed that recombinant TNF-alpha in the range of doses used in this investigation stimulated the formation of humoral immunity. The injection of TNF-alpha in a dose of 0.001 I.U. was found to produce the most pronounced effect on the level of tularemia antibodies and the number of antibody-producing cells. The use TNF-alpha as immunomodulator made it possible to decrease the dose of the preparation of F.tularensis OM introduced as immunogenic agent without essential changes in the number of splenic APC and in the level of tularemia antibodies.