Dual regulation of soluble tumor necrosis factor-α induced activation of human monocytic cells via modulating transmembrane TNF-α-mediated ‘reverse signaling’

Transmembrane tumor necrosis factor-α (mTNF-α) is known to be the precursor of soluble TNF-α (sTNF-α). mTNF-α can act as a ligand on the TNF receptor- (TNFR)- bearing cell through ‘forward signaling’ or as a receptor on the TNF producing cell through ‘reverse signaling’. In the current study, we investigated the role of mTNF-α-mediated reverse signaling in regulating sTNF-α-induced activation of human monocytic U937 cells. We demonstrated that...