Production of tumor necrosis factor and nitric oxide by macrophages infected with live and dead mycobacteria and their suppression by an interleukin-10-secreting recombinant

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We have analyzed mycobacterium-induced cytokine secretion in the J774A.1 macrophage-like cell line. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was preferentially induced by live organisms, both slow and rapid growing. Expression of interleukin-10 by a recombinant strain of Mycobacterium smegmatis caused reduced production of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide during the early stages of infection.