Genetic variability in tumor necrosis factor production: relevance to predisposition to autoimmune disease.
Rather than being involved merely in the effector arm of inflammatory processes that contribute to autoimmune organ destruction, a primary involvement of TNF may be in some of the more basic mechanisms that occur in autoimmune disease. In this review, data are presented on TNF-alpha that suggest the involvement of this cytokine in the genetic predisposition to autoimmune diseases such as lupus nephritis.
Jacob
C O
CO
Institute of Inflammation Biology and Immunology, Syntex Research, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha