TNF alpha, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, rat: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), also called cachectin, is produced by neutrophils, activated lymphocytes, macrophages, NK cells, LAK cells, astrocytes endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and some transformed cells.
TNF-α occurs as a secreted, soluble form and as a membrane-anchored form, both of which are biologically active.
The naturally occurring form of TNF-α is glycosylated, but non-glycosylated recombinant TNF-α has comparable biological activity.
The biologically active native form of TNF-α is reportedly a trimer.
Two types of receptors for TNF-α have been described and virtually all cell types studied show the presence of one or both receptor types., UnitProt ID: P16599