TNF-α and its Role in Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis which stands as an important public health problem. It was declared as a global health emergency by WHO in 1993 and it was for the first time when an infectious disease got such crooked distinction. TB causes about 1.5 million deaths every year and nearly one-third of the world population is infected with M. tuberculosis. Immune action against TB involves a cytokine mediated complex interplay of innate and adaptive immune system. TNF-α is a proinflammatory cytokine which functions in pathogenesis of TB by helping in granuloma formation, macrophage activation, Dendritic cell maturation and apoptosis of M. tuberculosis infected cells. This review aims to highlight the pivotal role of TNF-α in controlling the Mycobacterium infection and describes the current knowledge of TNF-α signaling.