Tumor Necrosis Factor Beta (LTA) Recombinant Protein

The encoded protein, a member of the tumor necrosis factor family, is a cytokine produced by lymphocytes. The protein is highly inducible, secreted, and forms heterotrimers with lymphotoxin-beta which anchor lymphotoxin-alpha to the cell surface. This protein also mediates a large variety of inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and antiviral responses, is involved in the formation of secondary lymphoid organs during development and plays a role in apoptosis. Genetic variations in this gene are associated with susceptibility to leprosy type 4 and psoriatic arthritis.

Function: Cytokine that in its homotrimeric form binds to TNFRSF1A/TNFR1, TNFRSF1B/TNFBR and TNFRSF14/HVEM. In its heterotrimeric form with LTB binds to TNFRSF3/LTBR. Lymphotoxin is produced by lymphocytes and cytotoxic for a wide range of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo.

Subunit structure: Homotrimer, and heterotrimer of either two LTB and one LTA subunits or (less prevalent) two LTA and one LTB subunits.

Subcellular location: Secreted. Membrane. Note: The homotrimer is secreted. The heterotrimer is membrane-associated.

Polymorphism: A polymorphism in LTA accounts, in part, for susceptibility to leprosy linked to chromosome 6p21.3 (LPRS4) [

MIM:610988].

Involvement in disease: Genetic variations in LTA are a cause of susceptibility psoriatic arthritis (PSORAS) [

MIM:607507]. PSORAS is an inflammatory, seronegative arthritis associated with psoriasis. It is a heterogeneous disorder ranging from a mild, non-destructive disease to a severe, progressive, erosive arthropathy. Five types of psoriatic arthritis have been defined: asymmetrical oligoarthritis characterized by primary involvement of the small joints of the fingers or toes; asymmetrical arthritis which involves the joints of the extremities; symmetrical polyarthritis characterized by a rheumatoidlike pattern that can involve hands, wrists, ankles, and feet; arthritis mutilans, which is a rare but deforming and destructive condition; arthritis of the sacroiliac joints and spine (psoriatic spondylitis).

Sequence similarities: Belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family.