Tumor necrosis factor
Tumor Necrosis Factor
Tumor necrosis factor (pronounced: TOO-mor ne-KRO-sis FAK-tor), often abbreviated as TNF, is a cell signaling protein (cytokine) involved in systemic inflammation and is one of the cytokines that make up the acute phase reaction.
Etymology
The term "Tumor necrosis factor" is derived from its initial discovery as a factor that causes necrosis (cell death) in tumors. The term "necrosis" comes from the Greek word "nekros", which means "dead body" or "corpse", and the term "factor" is used in biology to refer to a substance that contributes to a particular process or event.
Function
TNF is produced chiefly by activated macrophages, although it can be produced by many other cell types such as CD4+ lymphocytes, NK cells, neutrophils, mast cells, eosinophils, and neurons. 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. 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).
Related Terms
- Cytokine: A type of protein that is important in cell signaling. TNF is a type of cytokine.
- Macrophage: A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells.
- Inflammation: A process by which the body's white blood cells and substances they produce protect us from infection with foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
- Apoptosis: The process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms.
- Cachexia: Weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness.
- Alzheimer's disease: A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
- Cancer: A group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
- Major depression: A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.
- Psoriasis: A common skin condition that speeds up the life cycle of skin cells.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): An umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tumor necrosis factor
- Wikipedia's article - Tumor necrosis factor
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