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

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