TNF-α (human), (recombinant)

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa), also known as cachectin, is a 17.5 kDa, 157 amino acid member of the TNF superfamily of cytokines that is a potent lymphoid factor with effects on a wide range of target cells. Active TNFa is produced as both soluble and membrane-anchored trimers by macrophages, NK cells, and T- and B-lymphocytes. TNF exerts proinflammatory signals via binding and inducing trimerization of TNF-receptor 1 (TNFR1) expressed on most normal and transformed cells, or to TNF-receptor 2 (TNFR2), expressed on endothelial and most immune cells. TNF signaling regulates hematopoiesis differentiation, endothelial cell activation, apoptosis, lipid metabolism, tumor progression, and immune surveillance, and dysregulation of TNF or its receptors is implicated in numerous disease states including cancer, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and atherosclerosis.