Lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines, was initially isolated on the basis of an anti-tumor activity. LTA plays a key role in communication between lymphocytes and stromal cells, thereby eliciting cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. It induces the expression of vascular cell-adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) on vascular endothelial cells and recruits natural killer (NK) cells to parenchymal organs and tumor lesions.
Background References
1. Bell G.I., Pictet R.L., Rutter W.J., Cordell B., Tischer E., Goodman H.M.;"Sequence of the human insulin gene.";Nature 284:26-32(1980).
2. Nicol D.S.H.W., Smith L.F.;"Amino-acid sequence of human insulin.";Nature 187:483-485(1960).
3. Chang X., Joergensen A.M., Bardrum P., Led J.J.;"Solution structures of the R6 human insulin hexamer."; Biochemistry 36:9409-9422(1997).