Researchers reveal novel biochemical mechanism of cytokine-induced cell death

Uncovering the biochemical mechanisms underlying different types of cell death has the potential to provide targets for the treatment of various diseases. A physiological cytokine combination (TNF+IFNγ) has been identified that induces cell death in several cell lines in vitro. However, because TNF and IFNγ are multi-effector cytokines, their individual and combined use has complex effects. In disease situations, it is difficult to distinguish which effects are triggered by TNF+IFNγ cell death.