Tumour Necrosis Factor

Key points

• Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with multiple roles in the immune system TNF is secreted mainly by macrophages and has a number of effects on the immune system, acting mainly in a paracrine fashion:
• activates macrophages and neutrophils
• acts as costimulator for T cell activation
• key mediator of bodies response to Gram negative septicaemia
• similar properties to IL-1