TNF-alpha and IL-12: a balancing act in macrophage functioning.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 12 (IL-12) are two major macrophage-derived mediators of inflammatory responses in mammals. Increasing evidence suggests that TNF-alpha is a double-edged sword with both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory propensities. This article discusses the inter-regulation of TNF-alpha and IL-12 and the impact on the function of macrophages in innate and adaptive immunity.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. xim2002@med.cornell.edu
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D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12