Tumor necrosis factors (or the TNF-family) refers to a group of cytokines family that can cause cell death. The first two members of the family to be identified were: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is the best-known member of this class, and sometimes referred to when the term "tumor necrosis factor" is used. TNF-α is a monocyte-derived cytotoxin that has been implicated in tumour regression, septic shock and cachexia. The protein is synthesised as a prohormone with an unusually long and atypical signal sequence, which is absent from the mature secreted cytokine...