Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

Abstract

These studies demonstrate that exogenous TNF-alpha exacerbates focal ischemic injury and that blocking endogenous TNF-alpha is neuroprotective. The specificity of the action(s) of TNF-alpha was demonstrated by antagonism of its effects with specific anti-TNF-alpha tools (ie, mAb and sTNF-RI). TNF-alpha toxicity does not appear to be due to a direct effect on neurons or modulation of neuronal sensitivity to glutamate or oxygen radicals and apparently is mediated through nonneuronal cells. These data suggest that inhibiting TNF-alpha may represent a novel pharmacological strategy to treat ischemic stroke.