| Primary Identifier | IPR002961 | Type | Family |
| Short Name | TNF_C |
| description | Cytokines can be grouped into a family on the basis of sequence, functional and structural similarities [, , ]. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (also known as TNF-alpha or cachectin) is a monocyte-derived cytotoxin that has been implicated in tumour regression, septic shock and cachexia [, ]. The protein is synthesised as a prohormone with an unusually long and atypical signal sequence, which is absent from the mature secreted cytokine []. A short hydrophobic stretch of amino acids serves to anchor the prohormone in lipid bilayers []. Both the mature protein and a partially-processed form of the hormone are secreted after cleavage of the propeptide [].There are a number of different families of TNF, but all these cytokines seem to form homotrimeric (or heterotrimeric in the case of LT-alpha/beta) complexes that are recognised by their specific receptors. Lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha or TNF-beta) and lymphotoxin-beta (LT-beta) arerelated cytokines produced by lymphocytes. The proteins are cytotoxic for awide range of tumour cells in vitroand in vivo.This entry represents Tumour necrosis factor C (TNFC or LT-beta). The gene isfound next to the TNF-LT locus in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC),a region of the MHC with possible linkage to autoimmune disease []. It is possible that a surface LT-alpha/LT-beta complex may have a specific role in immune regulation distinct from the functions ascribed to TNF []. |
