title: Tumour necrosis factor.
abstract: Tumour necrosis factor, TNF, possesses the attributes of a typical cytokine, being a pleiotropic cell regulatory protein whose activity is largely determined by the cell type to which it binds and the presence of other protein regulators. Thus TNF can be a growth factor, cytotoxin, cytostatic agent or inducer of differentiation. This cytokine is also an important inflammatory mediator regulating the activity of neutrophils, eosinophils, T and B lymphocytes and modulating the properties of the vascular endothelium. All of these actions may play a role in the ability of TNF to induce necrosis of experimental animal tumours, but the potential of this cytokine in therapy of human cancer is uncertain. The increasing evidence for a role for TNF in the pathophysiology of acute and chronic disease makes the use of specific TNF antagonists an equally interesting therapeutic possibility.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Balkwill
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002100:Cachexia / Q000503:physiopathology; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha