Tumour necrosis factor, a key role in obesity?

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in ma ny metabolic responses in both normal and pathophysiological states. In spi te of the fact that this cytokine (also known as "cachectin") has been rela ted to many of the metabolic abnormalities associated with cachexia, recent studies suggest that TNF may also have a central role in obesity modulatin g energy expenditure, fat deposition and insulin resistance, This review de als with the role of TNF in the control of fat mass and obesity. (C) 1999 F ederation of European Biochemical Societies.