The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily is a protein superfamily of type II transmembrane proteins containing TNF homology domain and forming trimers. Members of this superfamily can be released from the cell membrane by extracellular proteolytic cleavage and function as a cytokine. These proteins are expressed predominantly by immune cells and they regulate diverse cell functions, including immune response and inflammation, but also proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and embryogenesis.
The superfamily contains 19 members that bind to 29 members of TNF receptor superfamily. An occurrence of orthologs in invertebrates hints at ancient origin of this superfamily in evolution.
The PROSITE pattern of this superfamily is located in a beta sheet in the central section of the protein that is conserved across all members.
Members There are 19 family members, numerically classified as TNFSF#, where # denotes the member number, sometimes followed by a letter. TNFSF#NameSynonymsGeneFunction1Lymphotoxin alphaTNFβ, TNFSF1BLTAInduction of inflammation and antiviral response, development of secondary lymphoid organs, role in tumorigenesis2Tumor necrosis factorTNFα, Dif, Necrosin, TNFSF1A, ...TNFRegulation of immune cells, induction of fever, cachexia, inflammation and apoptosis, inhibition of tumorigenesis and viral replication and response to sepsis3Lymphotoxin betaTNFγLTBInduction of inflammation and antiviral response, development of secondary lymphoid organs, role in tumorigenesis4OX40 ligandCD252, Gp34, CD134LTNFSF4Activation of T cell immune response by T cell costimulation5CD40 ligandCD154, TRAP, Gp39, T-BAMCD40LGRegulation of adaptive immune response by activating antigen-presenting cell6Fas ligandCD178, APTL, CD95LFASLGRegulation of T cell homeostasis by induction of apoptosis 7CD27 ligandCD70CD70Regulation of B cell activation and T cell homeostasis8CD30 ligandCD153TNFSF8Induction of apoptosis of T cells and B cells, prevention of autoimmunity9CD137 ligand4-1 BBLTNFSF910TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand CD253, APO-2LTNFSF10Inhibition of tumorigenesis, induction of apoptosis11Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligandCD254, OPGL, TRANCE, ODFTNFSF11Tissue growth (particularly bone regeneration and remodeling), dendritic cell maturation 12TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosisAPO-3L, DR3LTNFSF12Regulation of angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis13A proliferation-inducing ligandCD256, TALL-2, TRDL1TNFSF13Regulation of B cell development and plasma cell survival13BB-cell activating factorCD257, BLyS, TALL-1, TNFSF20, ...TNFSF13BStimulation of B cell proliferation and differentiation14LIGHTCD258, HVEMLTNFSF14Stimulation of T cell proliferation, apoptosis regulation15Vascular endothelial growth inhibitorTL1, TL-1ATNFSF15Inhibition of angiogenesis18TNF superfamily member 18GITRL, AITRL, TL-6TNFSF18Regulation of T cell survival19Ectodysplasin AED1-A1, ED1-A2EDADevelopment of ectodermal tissues
References
External links
pex1 tumor necrosis factor gene