Tumor necrosis factor-alpha mediated signaling in neuronal homeostasis and dysfunction

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent pro-inflammatory molecule, which upon engagement with its cognate receptors on target cells, triggers downstream signaling cascades that control a number of cellular processes related to cell viability, gene expression, ion homeostasis, and synaptic integrity. In the central nervous system (CNS), TNF-alpha is produced by brain-resident astrocytes, microglia, and neurons in response to numerous intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. This review will summarize the key events that lead to TNF-alpha elaboration in the CNS, and the effects that these inflammatory signals impart on neuronal signaling in the context of homeostasis and neuropathology. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.