The role of tumor necrosis factor-α in muscle wasting disorders

The present review discusses the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in muscle weight loss and protein mobilization during cancer and infection, with special emphasis on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is basically concluded that the most important biochemical event associated with muscle, wasting is an enhanced protein degradation through the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway. TNF is an important activator of this proteolytic system, and future therapeutic approaches for wasting should consider either blocking TNF action or inhibiting the activity of the referred proteolytic system.