The role of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 1 in the immunoinflammatory response.

Monocytes and tissue macrophages produce at least two groups of protein mediators of inflammation, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Recent studies have emphasized that TNF and IL-1 modulate the inflammatory function of endothelial cells, leukocytes, and fibroblasts. Although these cytokines share a number of biologic properties, they have quite distinct gene and protein structures. It is our purpose to focus on the role of these mediators in inflammation.