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.
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. xim2002@med.cornell.edu
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