The role of tumor necrosis factor in cardiac disease.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that can produce widespread deleterious effects when expressed in large amounts. It is produced in the heart by both cardiac myocytes and resident macrophages under conditions of cardiac stress, and is thought to be responsible for many of the untoward manifestations of cardiac disease. This article discusses the role of TNF in heart disease and some potential therapeutic modalities that can influence the cytokine activity. The results of controlled studies would suggest that TNF inhibition does not influence the clinical course of patients with heart failure.
Retter
A S
AS
Department of Internal Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19004, USA.
Frishman
W H
WH
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015415:Biomarkers; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha