Pneumolysin stimulates production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1β by human mononuclear phagocytes

Abstract

Human peripheral blood monocytes and a human monocyte cell line were exposed to the toxin pneumolysin. Pneumolysin-exposed cells produced significantly larger amounts of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin- 1β than cells not exposed to the toxin. The viability of cells was not affected by the concentrations of pneumolysin used in the experiments.