Controversy in Basic Sciences Is TNF Really Involved in Cachexia?

Abstract
A review on the possible involvement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in cachexia is presented. While this cytokine is definitely linked to sepsis and tumor-associated weight loss in some experimental models, other cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), alone or in combination with TNF, may also play an important role in the development of cachexia.