Tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 12 also known as TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TNFSF12gene.[5][6][7]
Function
TWEAK was discovered in 1997.[5] The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein is a ligand for the FN14/TWEAKR receptor. This cytokine has overlapping signaling functions with TNF, but displays a much wider tissue distribution. Leukocytes are the main source of TWEAK including human resting and activated monocytes, dendritic cells and natural killer cells.[8] TWEAK can induce apoptosis via multiple pathways of cell death in a cell type-specific manner. This cytokine is also found to promote proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and thus acts as a regulator of angiogenesis.[7]
^Burkly LC (June 2014). "TWEAK/Fn14 axis: the current paradigm of tissue injury-inducible function in the midst of complexities". Seminars in Immunology. The TNF family - challenges ahead. 26 (3): 229–36. doi:10.1016/j.smim.2014.02.006. PMID24636536.
Wiley SR, Winkles JA (2004). "TWEAK, a member of the TNF superfamily, is a multifunctional cytokine that binds the TweakR/Fn14 receptor". Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. 14 (3–4): 241–9. doi:10.1016/S1359-6101(03)00019-4. PMID12787562.
Jakubowski A, Browning B, Lukashev M, Sizing I, Thompson JS, Benjamin CD, Hsu YM, Ambrose C, Zheng TS, Burkly LC (January 2002). "Dual role for TWEAK in angiogenic regulation". Journal of Cell Science. 115 (Pt 2): 267–74. doi:10.1242/jcs.115.2.267. PMID11839778.
Harada N, Nakayama M, Nakano H, Fukuchi Y, Yagita H, Okumura K (December 2002). "Pro-inflammatory effect of TWEAK/Fn14 interaction on human umbilical vein endothelial cells". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 299 (3): 488–93. doi:10.1016/S0006-291X(02)02670-0. PMID12445828.