Tumor necrosis factor-alpha

From Citizendium
Revision as of 21:16, 26 June 2010 by imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

In medicine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha is a "serum glycoprotein produced by activated macrophages and other mammalian mononuclear leukocytes. It has necrotizing activity against tumor cell lines and increases ability to reject tumor transplants. Also known as TNF-alpha, it is only 30% homologous to tnf-beta (lymphotoxin), but they share TNF receptors.[1]

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors

  • TNFR-Fc fusion protein (etanercept - pronounced et a ner' set) blocks the activity of TNF-alpha.[2] Etanercept is used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and Systemic lupus erythematosus.[3]
  • Infliximab (pronounced in flix' i mab)is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that blocks the action of TNF-alpha by binding to it.[4]

Adverse effects

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors increase susceptibility to serious infections.[5]

References

  1. Anonymous (2024), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. The most up-to-date information about Etanercept and other drugs can be found at the following sites.
  3. Gorman JD, Sack KE, Davis JC (May 2002). "Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis by inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha". N. Engl. J. Med. 346 (18): 1349–56. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa012664. PMID 11986408. Research Blogging.
  4. The most up-to-date information about Infliximab and other drugs can be found at the following sites.
  5. Anonymous (2008). FDA MedWatch - 2008 Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.