[Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and pathology; its relationships with other cytokines]

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine produced mainly by activated monocytes/macrophages. We review here data obtained in four experimental models analyzed in our laboratory: cerebral malaria, graft-versus-host disease, BCG infection, and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. We have shown that the triggering of these pathological conditions requires activation of T lymphocytes and overproduction of TNF, since these syndromes are associated with increased production of TNF mRNA and can be prevented either by T-cell depletion or by in vivo administration of neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies. These observations suggest that TNF is a central mediator in various immunopathological conditions and thus widen the field of T-cell mediated pathology.