The importance of TNF-α signaling: a potential risk factor in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.

Cytokines are small, membrane-bound, protein-based cell signaling molecules that aid cell-to-cell communication in physiological and pathological processes. TNF-α is a pleiotropic cytokine that is regarded as a principal cytokine in the acute and chronic phases of the immune and inflammatory responses. TNF-α has been demonstrated to play a role in neuroplasticity and myelination, as well as excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and damage to the blood-brain barrier. The involvement of TNF-α in the etiology of Parkinson's disease, both in its early and late stages, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and coronary artery disease has been substantiated using both experimental models and clinical studies. TNF also plays a key role in cardiovascular disease, initiating a cascade of inflammatory and vascular responses. The aim of this study was to clarify the molecular mechanisms of TNF action and the effects of its secretion in selected diseases.