Tumor Necrosis Factor- –Induced Apoptosis in Murine Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

METHODS. The left eyes of nonimmunosuppressed (non-IS) BALB/c mice, immunosuppressed (IS) BALB/c mice, TNFR1 / C57BL/6 mice, and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with MCMV k181 by way of the supraciliary route. On postinoculation days 3, 7, and 10, injected eyes of non-IS control and IS experimental mice were removed for RT-PCR for TNFand TNFR1. Protein expression of TNF, caspase-8, and caspase-3 was determined by staining frozen sections and performing Western blot analysis and quantitative ELISA. Apoptotic cells were identified by TUNEL labeling.