| Specialization Multi Speciality Hospital | Locality BEL Layout |
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF, cachexin, or cachectin; often called tumor necrosis factor alpha or TNF- ) is an adipokine and a cytokine. TNF is a member of the TNF superfamily, which consists of various transmembrane proteins with a homologous TNF domain.TNF was thought to be produced primarily by macrophages, but it is produced also by a broad variety of cell types including lymphoid cells, mast cells, endothelial cells, cardiac myocytes, adipose tissue, fibroblasts, and neurons.[unreliable medical source? Large amounts of TNF are released in response to lipopolysaccharide, other bacterial products, and interleukin-1 (IL-1). In the skin, mast cells appear to be the predominant source of pre-formed TNF, which can be released upon inflammatory stimulus. In the brain TNF can protect against excitotoxicity. TNF strengthens synapses. TNF in neurons promotes their survival, whereas TNF in macrophages and microglia results in neurotoxins that induce apoptosis.TNF- and IL-6 concentrations are elevated in obesity. Monoclonal antibody against TNF- is associated with increases rather than decreases in obesity, indicating that inflammation is the result, rather than the cause, of obesity. TNF and IL-6 are the most prominent cytokines predicting COVID-19 severity and death.