Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cardiovascular diseases.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a potent inducible cytokine with pleiotropic biological effects, now implicated as a mediator of various physiologic and pathophysiologic events including inflammation, cell survival, growth, differentiation and apoptosis. TNF-alpha functions within a complex and tightly regulated cytokine network, activating multiple signal transduction pathways and inducing or suppressing a wide variety of genes, including those encoding for other cytokines, adhesion molecules and the inducible nitric oxide synthase. TNF-alpha has recently been implicated as a transducer of cardiovascular diseases, namely coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. This review will summarize established and newer findings on this molecule.
Bellisarii
F L
FL
Division of Cardiology, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy.
Gallina
S
S
De Caterina
R
R
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha