TNF-α signalling and inflammation: interactions between old acquaintances

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.