Tumour necrosis factor

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF, cachexin, or cachectin; formally known as tumour necrosis factor alpha or TNFα) is a cell signaling protein (cytokine) involved in systemic inflammation and is one of the cytokines that make up the acute phase reaction. It is produced chiefly by activated macrophages, although it can be produced by many other cell types as well.

Structure

The primary role of TNF is in the regulation of immune cells. TNF, being an endogenous pyrogen, is able to induce fever, apoptotic cell death, cachexia, inflammation and to inhibit tumorigenesis and viral replication and respond to sepsis via IL1- & IL6-producing cells. Dysregulation of TNF production has been implicated in a variety of human diseases including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, major depression, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Function

TNF can be produced by many types of cells including lymphoid cells, mast cells, endothelial cells, cardiac myocytes, adipose tissue, fibroblasts, and neuronal tissue. Large amounts of TNF are released in response to lipopolysaccharide, other bacterial products, and interleukin-1 (IL-1). In the skin, mast cells appear to be the primary producers of TNF.

Clinical significance

TNF appears to play a role in the resistance to bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic and certain tumours in the innate immune response. TNF is also a part of the cytokine network which regulates the immune response and plays a role in inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune diseases.

See also

• Cytokine
• Inflammation
• Macrophage
• Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Major depression
• Psoriasis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

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