TNF-induced signaling in apoptosis

J Clin Immunol. 1999 Nov;19(6):350-64. doi: 10.1023/a:1020546615229.

Abstract

Out of the almost 17 members of the TNF superfamily, TNF is probably the most potent inducer of apoptosis. TNF activates both cell-survival and cell-death mechanisms simultaneously. Activation of NF-kB-dependent genes regulates the survival and proliferative effects pf TNF, whereas activation of caspases regulates the apoptotic effects. TNF-induced apoptosis is mediated primarily through the activation of type I receptors, the death domain of which recruits more than a dozen different signaling proteins, which together are considered part of an apoptotic cascade. This cascade does not, however, account for the role of reactive oxygen intermediates, ceramide, phospholipases, and serine proteases which are also implicated in TNF-induced apoptosis. This cascade also does not explain how type II TNF receptors which lack the death domain, induce apoptosis. Nevertheless, this review of apoptosis signaling will be limited to those proteins that makeup the cascade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins*
  • Caspase 8
  • Caspase 9
  • Caspases / physiology
  • Ceramides / physiology
  • Fatty Acid Desaturases / physiology
  • Humans
  • Phospholipases / physiology
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteins / physiology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / physiology
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Ceramides
  • Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Fatty Acid Desaturases
  • Fad7 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Phospholipases
  • CASP8 protein, human
  • CASP9 protein, human
  • Caspase 8
  • Caspase 9
  • Caspases