Tumor Necrosis Factor Dynamics in Teleost Fish

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) represents a pivotal class of cytokines in teleost fish, orchestrating innate immune responses, inflammation and cell death. Teleost genomes harbour multiple TNF isoforms and cognate receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2), reflecting a diversification aligned with the acquisition of adaptive immunity in jawed vertebrates. Upon pathogen encounter or environmental stress, TNF-α transcripts surge in immune organs such as spleen and head kidney, driving nuclear factor κB activation, modulation of autophagy and regulation of apoptotic pathways. The balance between pro-apoptotic signalling via TNFR1 and survival cues through TNFR2 underpins vascular integrity, epithelial homeostasis and resolution of infection. Lipopolysaccharide and viral antigens induce rapid TNF-α expression, which can exert both protective antiviral functions and paradoxically hinder pathogen clearance by inhibiting autophagy. Evolutionary comparisons reveal both conservation of core TNF domains and specialised adaptations in receptor binding and expression kinetics. These dynamics bear direct relevance to aquaculture, where modulation of TNF pathways may enhance vaccine efficacy and disease resistance, and to environmental management, as stressors such as temperature and pollutants perturb TNF-mediated homeostasis. By integrating transcriptomic, molecular and functional studies, researchers now delineate a nuanced network of TNF ligands, receptors and downstream effectors that collectively dictate health and disease outcomes in teleost species globally.

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Tumor Necrosis Factor Dynamics in Teleost Fish publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in tumor necrosis factor dynamics in teleost fish across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

TNF-α: A proinflammatory cytokine central to pathogen defence, inflammation and apoptosis regulation.

TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1): A cell-surface receptor that primarily mediates apoptotic and inflammatory signalling upon TNF-α binding.

TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2): A receptor that often promotes cell survival and modulates immune responses through NF-κB activation.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS): A bacterial cell-wall component that triggers innate immunity and cytokine production in fish.

Autophagy: A cellular degradation process that eliminates pathogens and damaged organelles, which can be modulated by TNF signalling.

LITAF: A transcription factor induced by LPS that regulates TNF-α gene expression in teleost fish.

References

1. TNF receptors regulate vascular homeostasis in zebrafish through a caspase-8, caspase-2 and P53 apoptotic program that bypasses caspase-3. Disease Models & Mechanisms (2012).
2. The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) -identification, molecular characterization, phylogeny and gene expression analyses. Developmental & Comparative Immunology (2020).
3. TNFα Impairs Rhabdoviral Clearance by Inhibiting the Host Autophagic Antiviral Response. PLOS Pathogens (2016).
4. Identification and Characterization of Lipopolysaccharide Induced TNFα Factor from Blunt Snout Bream, Megalobrama amblycephala. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2017).