Tumor-necrosis-factor and cell-death in tumors (review)
Abstract:
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) was initially described by Carswell et al (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 72: 3666-3670, 1975) and was so named because of its massive lethal effect on some tumours, causing haemorrhagic necrosis, resulting in regression (Old LJ: Nature 326: 330-331, 1987). Two forms of TNF are now recognised, TNF-alpha and TNF-beta (lymphotoxin) and the TNF molecules have cell surface receptors, type 1 (TNF-R1) and type 2 (TNF-R2). On closer observation it was noted that not only pathological cell death (necrosis) resulted from treatment with TNF, but levels of physiological, gene-directed cell death (apoptosis) were also elevated (Haranaka K el al: Int J Cancer 34: 263-267, 1984; Sarraf CE, Bowen ID: Chemical Carcinogenesis 2, Modulating Factors. Plenum Press, pp 553-562, 1991). This review looks at the TNFs, their receptors and their relationships to apoptosis and necrosis in tumours.
Related Concept Videos
Necrosis
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Cellular Injury IV: Necrosis
Cellular Injury IlI: Cellular Death
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.

