[Coxiella burnetii antigens--inducers of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1].

The cultivation of mouse peritoneal macrophages in the presence of antigenic preparations obtained from C.burnetii was accompanied by the appearance of phagocytes and considerable amounts of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 in the culture medium. The production of cytokines depended on the doses of preparations used as inducers. The special treatment of C.burnetii antigen, selectively removing its phospholipid components, led to a sharp drop in its capacity for stimulating the production of cytokines.