Is "tumor necrosis factor" the major effector of pulmonary fibrosis?

Abstract

A major role of TNF in pulmonary fibrosis is supported by the following evidences obtained from pulmonary fibrosis induced in mice by bleomycin or silica particles; 1) these diseases are associated with a marked and lasting increase of the TNF mRNA within the lung, 2) they can be prevented by a treatment with anti TNF antibody or aggravated by a perfusion of mouse recombinant TNF, 3) an infusion of TNF-alpha can reproduce the alterations observed during pulmonary fibrosis such as growth of fibroblasts, collagen deposition, cell necrosis.