The Effect of Storage on Activity of Murine Tnf-α: a Comparison of Inbred and Outbred Strains

Date of Graduation

Fall 1996

Degree

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Richard Myers

Abstract

Macrophages responding to antigenic challenge release the potent cytokine, TNF-α, which initiates inflammationa and possible septic shock. Inbred strains are the preferred odel to study macrophage production of TNF-α because they are genetically homogeneous. The dimorphic yeast, Candida albicans, is an opportunistic pathogen that elicits a macrophage response and subsequent release of TNF-α in both inbred and outbred mice strains. The relationship of this yeast to activity of TNF-α demonstrates the invasiveness of Candida species. Although it is known that TNF-α mRNA has a half-life of approximately 26 minutes, the half-life of the TNF-α molecule when stored at 4° C is unknown. The focus of this study was primarily to determine the stability of biological activity of TNF-α between inbred and outbred mice strains after stimulation with LPS was studied. Results demonstrate that bioactivity of TNF-α declines significantly after one week of storage at 4° C and there is not a significant difference in macrophage production of TNF-α production between the strains.

Subject Categories

Biology

Copyright

© Jeffrey T Bookout

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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