Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and heart diseases

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by mononuclear phagocytes in blood and different tissues. Current data indicate that adult myocytes can also produce TNF-α in the course of various heart diseases, such as congestive heart failure, myocarditis, ischemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, and septic cardiomyopathy. Elevated TNF-α is considered to be contributive to the pathophysiology of these diseases. Methods concerning anti-TNF-α therapy and their clinical application are the on-going investigations.