Immune and metabolic responses are tightly integrated to maintain balance in organisms, with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) playing a key role in both processes. While TNF-α is important for immune regulation, its prolonged production can lead to inflammatory diseases, including obesity-related insulin resistance. The discovery of TNF-α’s link to obesity-induced inflammation has spurred research into immunometabolism, a field that examines how immune signals affect metabolism in conditions like type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

TNF-α is a central player in metabolic diseases, disrupting glucose metabolism and promoting inflammation in conditions like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and atherosclerosis. Its role in neuroinflammation and other obesity-related diseases is also becoming clear. Although TNF-α isn’t the only factor in these diseases, it is part of a larger network of immune mediators driving metabolic dysfunction. Ongoing research into TNF-α’s mechanisms may unlock its potential as a therapeutic target for chronic metabolic diseases, though more clinical trials are needed.

Reference: Sethi JK, Hotamisligil GS. Metabolic Messengers: tumour necrosis factor. Nat Metab. 2021 Oct;3(10):1302-1312. doi: 10.1038/s42255-021-00470-z. Epub 2021 Oct 14. PMID: 34650277.