Decreased sensitivity to tumour-necrosis factor but normal T-cell development in TNF receptor-2-deficient mice

TUMOUR necrosis factor (TNF) elicits multiple biological effects through two distinct cell surface receptors, TNF-R1 (p55) and TNF-R2 (p75). Most TNF-mediated biological responses, such as cell death, gene induction, antiviral activity and cytokine production, have been attributed to TNF-R1 (refs 1–5). Gene targeting of this receptor confirms its role in the lethality attributable to low doses of lipopolysaccharide after sensitization with D-galactosamine 6,7 ; surprisingly, the toxicity of high doses of lipopolysaccharide was unaffected. The function of TNF-R2 is less well understood, although there are data supporting a role in T-cell development and the proliferation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes 8,9 . To clarify the physiological role of TNF-R2, we have generated mice deficient in this receptor by gene targeting. The TNF-R2 −/− mice show normal T-cell development and activity, but we find that they have increased resistance to TNF-induced death. Additionally, such mice injected subcutaneously with TNF show a dramatic decrease in tissue necrosis, indicating that this receptor plays a role in the necrotic effects of TNF.