Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a highly potent, proinflammatory cytokine with broad-ranging functions from the regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules to facilitate entry of leucocytes into tissues, to direct induction of cellular cytotoxicity. This diversity of function potentially attributable to TNF in the genesis of inflammatory disorders place TNF as a primary candidate for clinical targeting and considerable success in this regard has been achieved, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this article we provide a short overview of TNF and its homologue lymphotoxin (LT) α and β. Particular emphasis is placed on recent discoveries regarding the cell surface expression of these cytokines and the role of TNF/LT in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of the human demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis (MS).

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Immunology
Research Field:	Immunology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:	Infectious Diseases
UTAS Author:	Korner, H (Professor Heinrich Korner)
ID Code:	72568
Year Published:	1996
Web of Science® Times Cited:	58
Deposited By:	Research Division
Deposited On:	2011-08-29
Last Modified:	2011-08-29
Downloads:	0