TNF-alpha induces apoptosis in rat fetal brown adipocytes in primary culture.
The effect of TNF-alpha on cell death in rat fetal brown adipocytes maintained in primary culture was determined. TNF-alpha inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in these cells. Most of the cells undergoing apoptosis after TNF-alpha treatment did not express PCNA, suggesting an induction of apoptosis by TNF-alpha in non-proliferative cells. IGF-I but not EGF prevented TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.