title: TNF-alpha in tuberculosis: a cytokine with a split personality.
abstract: TNF-alpha is an essential component of the innate defence mechanism of the host against pathogenic challenge. Unfortunately, it can also play a major role in the pathology of certain diseases, such as tuberculosis. This disease is a striking example of the role of TNF-alpha as a 'double-edged sword', because apart from its role in controlling the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, it can also cause severe tissue damage. TNF-alpha exhibits a very complex network of interactions and many of its activities are still not fully understood. This report aims to review the pivotal role of TNF-alpha in controlling the mycobacterial infection, with a particular emphasis on its influence on chemokine expression and cell movement during granuloma formation, and the issues surrounding the use of TNF-alpha inhibitors for therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mootoo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stylianou
authors.forename: Mauricio A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Rajko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reljic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha