Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-cL is thought to be one of the cytokines that account for bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-induced B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, however, information on TNF-alpha expression in B-cells is limited. In this study, the expression of TNF-alpha in IgM(+) B-cells from BLV-infected sheep with or without lymphocytosis was determined. Freshly isolated IgM(+) B-cells from three sheep with lymphocytosis constitutively transcribed TNF-alpha mRNA. Although TNF-alpha mRNA expression in IgM(+) B-cells was transiently up-regulated after cell culture, TNF-alpha mRNA expression was markedly higher in lymphocytotic sheep when compared to that of non-lymphocytotic sheep or uninfected sheep. Expression of membranebound TNF-alpha on IgM(+) B-cells was also augmented in lymphocytotic sheep. TNF-alpha expression in lymphocytotic sheep may support the proliferation of B-cells. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.