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     Western blot analysis of TNF beta expression in TNF beta recombinant protein.    

  
  

Tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-β), also known as lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-α), is a cytokine belonging to the TNF superfamily. It is primarily produced by activated lymphocytes, including T and B cells, and plays a critical role in regulating immune responses, inflammation, and lymphoid organ development. TNF-β shares structural homology with TNF-α but binds to distinct receptors (TNFR1/TNFR2 and lymphotoxin-beta receptor) to mediate diverse biological effects, such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cytokine cascade activation.

TNF-β antibodies are tools designed to specifically target and neutralize TNF-β activity. These antibodies are widely used in research to investigate the cytokine's role in autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), chronic inflammation, and cancer. In therapeutic contexts, anti-TNF-β agents have been explored to modulate dysregulated immune pathways, though their clinical application remains less advanced compared to TNF-α inhibitors like infliximab or adalimumab. Challenges include ensuring specificity to avoid cross-reactivity with TNF-α and minimizing off-target effects. Additionally, TNF-β antibodies serve as diagnostic tools to quantify cytokine levels in biological samples, aiding in disease biomarker studies. Ongoing research aims to clarify its dual pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive roles, which could unlock novel treatment strategies for immune-mediated disorders.