Tumour necrosis factor

Question 1

What is TNF and what cell secretes it?

Answer 1

Pro-inflammatory cytokine secreted by macrophages

Question 2

Acts of TNF on the immune system

Answer 2

• activates macrophages and neutrophils
• costimulator for T cell activation
• key mediator of bodies response to Gram negative septicaemia
• anti-tumour effect (e.g. phospholipase activation)

Question 3

What receptors does TNF-alpha bind to?

Answer 3

p55 and p75 receptor (causes apoptosis)

Question 4

Systemic effects of TNF

Answer 4

pyrexia, increased acute phase proteins and disordered metabolism leading to cachexia

Question 5

give examples of TNF inhibitors

Answer 5

infliximab
etanercept
adalimumab
golimumab

Question 6

Adverse effects of TNF blockers

Answer 6

reactivation of latent TB
demyelination