Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine exerting pleiotropic effects on various cell types and plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. In this book, the authors discuss the structure, enzyme regulation and role in health and disease of TNF. Topics include TNF-a related to signal pathways and neuronal diseases; the role of TNF-a in rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmunity; the presence of 308-A TNF allele and its association with the clinical parameters of myelodysplastic syndromes; the significance of TNF in the immune response against tuberculosis; and TNF-a signaling and cathespin B.