Tumour necrosis factor alpha receptors: role in the physiopathology of protozoan parasite infections

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) is an important cytokine in immune regulation and resistance to various micro-organisms. It provides signals to the target cells through two different receptors: TNFR1 and TNFR2. The p resent report reviews the role of TNF receptors (TNFRs) in the immune respo nse against protozoan parasite infections of medical interest (Toxoplasma g ondii, Leishmania major, Trypanosoma cruzi. Plasmodium spp.). TNF alpha has been regarded as a modulator cytokine in host defence against protozoans i nfections and recent findings on experimental gene-deficient mice have show ed that TNF alpha /TNFRs pathway may be beneficial for host protection duri ng these infections. (C) 2001 Australian Society for parasitology Inc. publ ished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.