| Synonyms: |
DIF, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, RATTNF, Tnfa, tnf, TNF-a, TNFalpha, Tnfsf1a, TNFa, cTNF, Tnf-alpha, tnfa-like, TNF-ALPHA, dif, tnfa, xtnf, tnfsf2, tnf-alpha, Cachectin, tumor necrosis factor, tumor necrosis factor b (TNF superfamily, member 2), tumor necrosis factor alpha, tumor necrosis factor a (TNF superfamily, member 2), TNF, Tnf, tnf, tnfb, tnf-alpha, LOC103694380, tnfa. |
| Background: |
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), also known as cachexin or cachectin, and previously referred to as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, is a cytokine implicated in systemic inflammation. It belongs to a family of cytokines that trigger the acute phase reaction. The receptor TNF-R1 can be activated by both the membrane-bound and soluble trimeric forms of TNF-alpha, while TNF-R2 responds solely to the membrane-bound form. Multimeric TNF-alpha, which forms oligomers higher than trimers, mimics the membrane-bound form and thus exclusively activates TNF-R2. However, for TNF-R1 activation, either "normal" TNF-alpha or multimeric TNF-alpha can be utilized. |
