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Abstract
Inflammation is a very important part of innate immunity and is regulated in many steps. One such regulating step is the cytokine network, where tumor necrosis factor [alpha] (TNF-[alpha]) plays one of the most important roles.
A PubMed and Web of Science databases search was performed for studies providing evidences on the role of TNF-[alpha] in inflammation, apoptosis, and cancer.
This review concisely summarizes the role of this pro-inflammatory cytokine during inflammation. It is focused mainly on TNF-[alpha] intracellular signaling and its influence on the typical inflammatory features in the organism. Being one of the most important pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-[alpha] participates in vasodilatation and edema formation, and leukocyte adhesion to epithelium through expression of adhesion molecules; it regulates blood coagulation, contributes to oxidative stress in sites of inflammation, and indirectly induces fever. The connection between TNF-[alpha] and cancer is mentioned as well.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]