If you have an immune systemdisease like rheumatoid arthritis(RA), you may have heard your doctor use the term TNF. It’s shorthand for tumor necrosis factor, a substance in your body that causes inflammation, or swelling.
It may surprise you to learn that inflammation can be a good thing. It happens when your immune system -- your body’s natural defense force -- is fighting a possible threat. For example, when you have a cold, your sinuses swell. When you get a cut, your finger turns warm and red. These things don’t feel good, but they show your immune system is doing its job.
Sometimes, inflammation isn’t good for the body. If you have a disease like RA or psoriatic arthritis, your immune system is confused about what to attack. It goes after healthy body parts, like your joints, by mistake. Your system gets flooded with inflammation, which often means you have too much TNF -- specifically, a type called TNF alpha.
Inflammation Is a Chain Reaction
When you have an infection, certain white blood cells release key chemicals that tell other cells to cause inflammation. Your doctor might call them signaling chemicals. TNF is a major player when it comes to inflammation.
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