TNF-α signalling and inflammation: interactions between old acquaintances

• Published in: Inflammation research Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 641 - 651
• Main Authors: Zelova, Hana, Hosek, Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Allergology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Dermatology; Humans; Immunology; Inflammation - immunology; Neurology; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - immunology; Review; Rheumatology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; TNFR; Inflammation; TNF-α; Apoptosis; Cancer
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-013-0633-0

Introduction Inflammation is a very important part of innate immunity and is regulated in many steps. One such regulating step is the cytokine network, where tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) plays one of the most important roles. Methods A PubMed and Web of Science databases search was performed for studies providing evidences on the role of TNF-α in inflammation, apoptosis, and cancer. Results and Conclusion This review concisely summarizes the role of this pro-inflammatory cytokine during inflammation. It is focused mainly on TNF-α intracellular signaling and its influence on the typical inflammatory features in the organism. Being one of the most important pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α participates in vasodilatation and edema formation, and leukocyte adhesion to epithelium through expression of adhesion molecules; it regulates blood coagulation, contributes to oxidative stress in sites of inflammation, and indirectly induces fever. The connection between TNF-α and cancer is mentioned as well.