Tumor necrosis factor and tuberculosis.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a major role in the initial and long-term control of tuberculosis. The mechanisms by which this cytokine contributes to the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are numerous and therefore difficult to dissect. TNF is important in macrophage activation as well as cell recruitment to the site of infection.

Neutralization of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by antibody but not TNF receptor fusion molecule exacerbates chronic murine tuberculosis.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays an essential role in the immunologic maintenance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Although an increased rate of tuberculosis has been reported in humans treated with anti-TNF biological agents, disparate rates of disease have been observed between those treated with infliximab, an anti-TNF antibody, and etanercept, a TNF-neutralizing TNF receptor (TNFR) fusion molecule. We compared the effects of anti-TNF antibody and soluble TNFR fusion molecule in the murine model of tuberculosis.