TNF-beta Human Active 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, myocardial infarction, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and psoriatic arthritis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2012]

LTA: 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. Genetic variations in LTA are a cause of susceptibility psoriatic arthritis (PSORAS). 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). Belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family.

Protein type: Secreted, signal peptide; Apoptosis; Cytokine; Secreted

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 6p21.3

Cellular Component: extracellular space; membrane

Molecular Function: cytokine activity; tumor necrosis factor receptor binding; receptor binding

Biological Process: response to drug; positive regulation of humoral immune response mediated by circulating immunoglobulin; positive regulation of apoptosis; apoptosis; response to lipopolysaccharide; signal transduction; lymph node development; humoral immune response; positive regulation of interferon-gamma production; defense response to Gram-positive bacterium; cell-cell signaling; negative regulation of fibroblast proliferation; response to hypoxia; positive regulation of chronic inflammatory response to antigenic stimulus; response to nutrient

Disease: Psoriatic Arthritis, Susceptibility To; Myocardial Infarction, Susceptibility To; Leprosy, Susceptibility To, 4