Tumor necrosis factor in metabolism of disease: hormonal actions versus local tissue effects.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Tumor necrosis factor in metabolism of disease: hormonal actions versus local tissue effects.

Nouv Rev Fr Hematol. 1992;34 Suppl:S37-42. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94051537
Tracey KJ; Cerami A; Division of Neurosurgery, North Shore University Hospital-Cornell; University Medical College, Manhasset, NY 11030.

Abstract: Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine that participates in the mediation of numerous diseases associated with inflammation, cachexia, shock, and tissue injury. Early studies of the biology of TNF delineated its hormonal actions as well as its systemic toxicity. More recent investigations have drawn attention to its paracrine actions that predominate when it is produced locally in the brain or vital organs. For instance, when compartmentalized production of TNF occurs in the central nervous system it directly mediates fever, anorexia, and altered whole-body metabolism. Since these changes are mediated within the neural network they occur independently of simultaneously sampled serum TNF levels. These paracrine actions of TNF have implications for diseases associated with production of TNF in tissues (e.g. HIV cerebritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral malaria and cancer), because they may differ markedly from the hormone like-actions associated with systemic release. Since TNF may be beneficial in some diseases yet injurious in others, both the hormonal and paracrine actions must be precisely defined in order to formulate novel treatment strategies based on either enhancing its useful effects, or suppressing toxicity.

Keywords: Animal Anorexia/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Brain Neoplasms/SECRETION Cachexia/CHEMICALLY INDUCED/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Central Nervous System/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Human Infection/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Inflammation/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Mice Mice, Nude Rats Recombinant Proteins/SECRETION/TOXICITY Shock, Septic/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY Tumor Necrosis Factor/*PHYSIOLOGY/TOXICITY JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL
940228
M9420807

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