TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tumour necrosis factor mean? 

• TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR (noun)
  The noun TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR has 1 sense:

1. a proinflammatory cytokine that is produced by white blood cells (monocytes and macrophages); has an antineoplastic effect but causes inflammation (as in rheumatoid arthritis)

  Familiarity information: TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A proinflammatory cytokine that is produced by white blood cells (monocytes and macrophages); has an antineoplastic effect but causes inflammation (as in rheumatoid arthritis)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

TNF; tumor necrosis factor; tumour necrosis factor

Hypernyms ("tumour necrosis factor" is a kind of...):

cytokine (any of various protein molecules secreted by cells of the immune system that serve to regulate the immune system)

 Context examples 

During step 1, the conditioning regimen (irradiation and/or chemotherapy) leads to damage, activation of host tissues and induction of inflammatory cytokines [tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL-1)] secretion.

(Graft-Versus-Host Disease Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Moreover activated mast cells and Th2 cells in the lung generate the cytokines interleukin IL-4, IL-13 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha.

(Asthma Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)