肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor, TNF) 是一种重要的细胞因子，具有广泛的生物学作用。1975年，TNF首次发 现，最初被认为具有诱导肿瘤坏死活性，还被推测参与恶病质发生。1985年，TNF被发现是一种关键炎症因子，参与内毒素诱导的休克反应；随后，发现其在类风湿关节炎、炎症性肠病、强直性脊柱炎和银屑病等众多自身免疫性疾病中发挥关键作用。阻断TNF活性可缓解多种疾病临床症状，为药物研发奠定理论基础。1998年起，多种TNF抑制剂包括英夫利昔单抗、阿达木单抗、赛妥珠单抗、戈利莫单抗和依那西普等先后获批使用，成为当前临床使用最广泛的一类药物。肿瘤坏死因子的发现、功能阐明以及抑制剂的开发与应用过程，全面诠释了转化医学的成功之道。

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important cytokine with a wide range of biological functions. In 1975, TNF was discovered, initially believed to inducing necrosis of tumor and presumed to be involved in cachexia. In 1985, TNF was confirmed as a key inflammatory factor involved in lipopolysaccharide-induced shock, and subsequently found to play a key role in many inflammatory diseases. TNF blockade has been shown to be of great value in alleviating a variety of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis. Then, many TNF inhibitors have been developed and approved for clinical use, including infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi) and etanercept (Enbrel). The discovery, functional elucidation of TNF and the development and application of inhibitors have fully explained the successful path of translational medicine.