Mouse Anti-Guinea Pig TNF monoclonal antibody for ELISA(Det). Tumornecrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), also known as cachectin and TNFSF2, isthe prototypic ligand of the TNF superfamily. It is a pleiotropicmolecule that plays a central role in inflammation, apoptosis, andimmune system development. TNF-alpha is produced by a wide variety of immuneand epithelial cell types. Guinea pig TNF-alpha consists of a 35amino acid (aa) cytoplasmic domain, a 21 aa transmembrane segment, and a155 aa extracellular domain (ECD). Within the ECD, guinea pig TNF-alpha shares 80%-83% aa sequence identity with human, mouse, and rat TNF-alpha. The 26 kDa type 2 transmembrane protein is assembledintracellularly to form a noncovalently linked homotrimer. Ligation of this complex induces reverse signaling that promotes lymphocyteco-stimulation but diminishes monocyte responsiveness. Cleavage of membrane bound TNF-alpha by TACE/ADAM17 releases a 55 kDa soluble trimericform of TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha trimers bind the ubiquitous TNF RI and the hematopoietic cell-restricted TNF RII, both of which are also expressedas homotrimers. TNF-alpha regulates lymphoid tissue development through control of apoptosis. It also promotes inflammatoryresponses by inducing the activation of vascular endothelial cells and macrophages. TNF-alpha is a key cytokine in the development of several inflammatory disorders. It contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes through its effects on insulin resistance and fatty acid metabolism.