Poxvirus preparation CONPIND initiates production of the major inflammatory mediators IL-1α and TNF-α in human whole blood and in blood mononuclear cell cultures

The poxvirus preparation CONPIND initiated the production of the two major inflammatory mediators interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in whole blood and in blood mononuclear cell cultures of man at 37°C within 12–48 h. The release of the cytokines followed a dose-efficacy curve. High levels of IL1-α (up to 810 pg/ml) and TNF-α (up to 533 pg/ml) were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.