Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in the Developing Nervous System

Abstract

We present evidence that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is transiently expressed at specific times during embryogenesis in precisely defined areas of the nervous system in two different classes of vertebrates. In murine embryos, TNF-α was detected in the brain, neural tube and peripheral mixed spinal nerves. In the chick embryo, TNF-α was observed in the brain neuroepitheiium and in the developing Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum. Western immunoblot analysis revealed that brain tissue from both mouse and chick embryos contained a SOkDa protein showing immunoreactivity with anti-TNF-α antibody. These results suggest that TNF-α participates in the normal development of the vertebrate brain and spinal cord.

Key Words:

• TNF-α
• development
• nervous system