Tumor necrosis factor-α can induce Langhans-type multinucleated giant cell formation derived from myeloid dendritic cells.

The formation of the rich cellular features of MGCs, where the nuclei are arranged circularly at the periphery of the cell (morphologically epithelioid; Langhans-type), is assumed to be associated with any granulomatous disease. The mechanism by which TNF controls the formation of human MGCs in vitro was investigated, focusing on the effect of the TNF-neutralizing antibody. Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated with mAb-coated immunologic magnetic beads and cultured for 10 days in the presence of 20 ng/mL GM-CSF and 10 ng/mL IL-4.