Tumour Necrosis Factor and Related Cytotoxins

The number of factors implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation is already considerable and more are continually being identified. This book concentrates on tumor necrosis factor (cachectin) and lymphotoxin, but includes observations of their interactions with other cytokines, especially the interferons and interleukins. TNF can be either cytostatic or cytotoxic to cultured cell lines, and a variety of mechanisms are proposed, ranging from DNA fragmentation to activation of phospholiopases. TNF is also reported to stimulate the growth of normal fibroblasts in vivo. The in vivo actions of TNF described here include haemorrhagic necrosis of tumors, cachexia, effects on the vasculature, and antiparasitic and antiviral activities. Also presented is some interesting data from the first stages of clinical trials of TNF as an anticancer agent.

The number of factors implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation is already considerable and more are continually being identified. This book concentrates on tumor necrosis factor (cachectin) and lymphotoxin, but includes observations of their interactions with other cytokines, especially the interferons and interleukins. TNF can be either cytostatic or cytotoxic to cultured cell lines, and a variety of mechanisms are proposed, ranging from DNA fragmentation to activation of phospholiopases. TNF is also reported to stimulate the growth of normal fibroblasts in vivo. The in vivo actions of TNF described here include haemorrhagic necrosis of tumors, cachexia, effects on the vasculature, and antiparasitic and antiviral activities. Also presented is some interesting data from the first stages of clinical trials of TNF as an anticancer agent.

Natural Production and Release of Tumour Necrosis Factor (G.Gifford, D. Flick).Possible Relationships between in vivo AntitumourActivity and Toxicity of Tumour Necrosis Factor-a (M. Palladino etal.).Human Tumour Necrosis Factors: Structure and ReceptorInteractions (B. Aggarwal et al.).Cytocidal Activity of Tumour Necrosis Factor: Protection byProtease Inhibitors (C. Baglioni et al.).Lymphotoxin: Cloning, Regulation, and Mechanism of Killing (N.Ruddle et al.).Physiological Responses to Cachectin (K. Tracey et al.).Structure-function Relationship of Tumour Necrosis Factor andIts Mechanism of Action (W. Fiers et al.).Relationship of Tumour Necrosis Factor and Endotoxin toMacrophage Cytotoxicity, Haemorrhagic Necrosis and Lethal shock (J.Rothstein, H. Schreiber).Antitumour Effects of Necrosis Factor: Cytotoxic or NecrotizingActivity and Its Mechanism (K. Haranaka et al.).Effects of Tumour Necrosis Factor on Human Tumour Xenografts inNude Mice (F. Balkwill et al.).Effects of Tumour Necrosis Factor and Related Cytokines onVascular Endothelial Cells (J. Pober).Antiparasitic Effects of Tumour Necrosis Factor in vivoand in vitro (J. Playfair, J. Taverne).Clinical Studies with Tumour Necrosis Factor (D. Spriggs etal.).Summary (L. Old).Index of Contributors.Subject Index.