Synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage cells from human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells from a cohort of 34 human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons with established Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were examined for expression of tumor necrosis factors (TNF-alpha) mRNA by fluorescence in situ hybridization with an antisense riboprobe. Video image analysis was used to develop a quantitative assay that evaluates relative single-cell levels of mRNA. The resulting data were analyzed as an antisense-to-sense ratio and examined for correlation between TNF-alpha mRNA expression and other measures of disease severity. Higher levels of TNF-alpha mRNA were seen in persons who had higher levels of arterial oxygen.