TNF Tolerance in Monocytes and Macrophages: Characteristics and Molecular Mechanisms

Figure 4

Two faces of TNF tolerance. To prevent hyperinflammation, refractoriness towards TNF may serve as a protective mechanism for cells and organisms to resolve inflammation and prevent acute or chronic inflammatory disease. On the other hand, excessive TNF tolerance may result in the paralysis of cellular immune functions, thus contributing to the state of immune paralysis characteristic for severe inflammatory diseases such as sepsis.