Editorial [Hot Topic: Tumor Necrosis Factor (Guest Editor: Francis Ka-Ming Chan)]

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is the prototype member of a large family of cytokines that plays a crucial role in metazoan biology. Recent advances have identified TNF-like cytokines and their cognate receptors as critical mediators of many inflammatory diseases. The field of TNF biology is ever-expanding, with over 60,000 citations listed in the Pubmed, highlighting the progress of the field and its significance to human health in general. In this issue, we have attempted to provide a synopsis of recent advances in TNF biology, with a special emphasis on how TNF and its related cytokines contribute to the control of inflammatory processes. The reviews by Bixby et al. and Pham et al. summarize how two molecular events regulated by TNF, the control of cell death and NF kappa B activation, modulate the inflammatory process. The role of TNF in controlling inflammation is highlighted by human patients with genetic mutations in TNF receptor, a subject that is reviewed by Todd et al. Nikolov and Siegel reviewed the use of targeted therapies against TNF-mediated inflammatory diseases. Finally, Sedger provided a comprehensive review on how viruses have developed strategies to subvert TNF signaling and inflammation as a means to facilitate their survival and propagation within the infected host. It is our hope that these reviews will help the readers navigate through this rapidly expanding field of research.