Title
Apoptosis-inducing members of the tumor necrosis factor supergene family: Potential functions in placentae
Publication Date
1999
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Apoptosis-inducing members of the TNF supergene family are clearly involved in local maternal-fetal immunological relationships as well as placental development and function. Although significant progress has been made in mapping out the temporal and spatial distribution of the best known members of this powerful gene family, TNFα, LTα and FasL, many newly reported ligands and receptors have yet to be examined. Furthermore, it is not yet clear how broad the range of functions of these cytokines may be or whether their death-dealing property is the most important. Nor is it certain whether each factor has an individual, specific role or whether overlapping functions will be the rule.
Although developing a full understanding of the cytokines that comprise this family is a daunting task as greater and greater complexities are revealed, sorting out the expression, regulation and activities of each could yield major benefits. Infertility in one in six couples is now a widely quoted figure (ISLAT Working Group, 1998) and it is likely that some portion of reproductive failure is due to inappropriate PCD and ACD mediated by members of the TNF supergene family.
Original Citation
Hunt, J. S., Phillips, T. A., Rasmussen, C. A., Bowen, J.A., & Bluethmann, H. (1999). Apoptosis-inducing members of the tumor necrosis factor supergene family: Potential functions in placentae. Trophoblast Research, 20(1), 243-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0143-4004(99)80019-8
Virtual Commons Citation
Hunt, J. S.; Phillips, T. A.; Rasmussen, C. A.; Bowen, Jeffery; and Bluethmann, H. (1999). Apoptosis-inducing members of the tumor necrosis factor supergene family: Potential functions in placentae. In Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. Paper 31.
Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/biol_fac/31