RECOMBINANT TNF-α MEDIATED REGULATION OF THE IκB-α/NF-κB SIGNALING PATHWAY: EVIDENCE FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF PRO- AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN ALVEOLAR EPITHELIAL CELLS

The signaling transduction mechanism mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the alveolar epithelium is not well characterized. It was subsequently hypothesized that recombinant murine TNF-α (rmTNF-α) selectively regulates the inhibitory κB (IκB-α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and interferes with the endogenous biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory (stimulatory) and anti-inflammatory (inhibitory) cytokines. The cytokine rmTNF-α induced,...