Abstract
The infiltration of pigment-laden macrophages (PLM) in Sinclair swine cutaneous melanoma during the time frame in which histopathological evidence of tumor regression is observed suggests that they may play a role in this event. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF[alpha]c) is a major cytotoxic secretagogue of activated macrophages. This study analyzed the circulating and intratumoral levels of TNF[alpha] in melanoma-positive and melanoma-free Sinclair swine over the first 100 days of age. TNF[alpha] concentrations were measured by porcine-specific TNF[alpha] ELISA. The mean serum TNF[alpha] concentration of all tumored pig samples combined (23.2 pg/n-d) was significantly higher than non-tumored pigs (15.97 pg/ml). However, comparisons of age groups between tumored and non-tumored pigs showed no significant differences. Comparisons of different ages within a tumor status group showed significant changes in serum TNF[alpha] concentrations. Intratumoral concentrations of TNF[alpha](X showed a significant decrease from 260.9 pg/ml to 40.4 pg/n-A over the first 100 days of age. These studies indicate that differences in TNF[alpha] serum and intratumoral concentrations occur in Sinclair swine and these may be correlated with age and tumor status.
Ash, Joan Olivia Rogers (1998). TNF Alpha concentration in tumored and non-tumored Sinclair swine. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1998 -THESIS -A84.