Scientists overturn decades of thinking about immune system's TNF protein
Researchers have discovered that TNF, long blamed for suppressing bone marrow function, actually plays a nuanced role—sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful—depending on context. The finding could reshape development of therapies for blood disorders, cancer, and immune diseases worth billions in annual healthcare spending.
Originaltitel: What we thought we knew about TNF—And what we now must re-learn
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was long cast as a hematopoiesis villain, driving bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) suppression. We now see that TNF's effects are cell type-, context-, and time-dependent. Rather than being simply "bad," TNF can prune progenitors while transiently reprogramming HSCs without sacrificing long-term regenerative capacity.