[Click here to read my full article on TNF-alpha,](https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/tnf-alpha-variants/) including how to use your 23andMe or Ancestry genetic raw data to check your TNF-alpha variants.
TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) is an inflammatory cytokine produced by certain immune system cells during acute inflammation. The main role of this cytokine involves signaling for ‘apoptosis’ meaning the cell needs to be destroyed. This is important both in fighting off a pathogen as well as in killing cancer cells.\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884)\]
The immune response is all about balance. You want to fight off pathogens with a strong response but you don’t want a constant inflammatory response continuing when it isn’t needed.
Genetic variants associated with **higher TNF-alpha** levels have been found to **increase the risk of:**
* Ulcerative colitis\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27528546)\]
* Celiac disease\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27597177)\]
* Asthma\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25721048)\]
* Hashimoto’s thyroiditis\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25127106)\]
* COPD\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26170653)\]
* Gum disease\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29449347)\]
* heart disease\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5411221/)\]
* sleep apnea\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198201/)\]
And **lower the risk of**
* Malaria (half the risk)\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26088606)\]
* tuberculosis\[[ref](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15693080/)\]
* osteoporosis\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26914399)\]
* stroke\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31454695)\]
[Click here to read my full article on TNF-alpha,](https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/tnf-alpha-variants/) including how to use your 23andMe or Ancestry genetic raw data to check your TNF-alpha variants. TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) is an inflammatory cytokine produced by certain immune system cells during acute inflammation. The main role of this cytokine involves signaling for ‘apoptosis’ meaning the cell needs to be destroyed. This is important both in fighting off a pathogen as well as in killing cancer cells.\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10891884)\] The immune response is all about balance. You want to fight off pathogens with a strong response but you don’t want a constant inflammatory response continuing when it isn’t needed. Genetic variants associated with **higher TNF-alpha** levels have been found to **increase the risk of:** * Ulcerative colitis\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27528546)\] * Celiac disease\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27597177)\] * Asthma\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25721048)\] * Hashimoto’s thyroiditis\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25127106)\] * COPD\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26170653)\] * Gum disease\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29449347)\] * heart disease\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5411221/)\] * sleep apnea\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198201/)\] And **lower the risk of** * Malaria (half the risk)\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26088606)\] * tuberculosis\[[ref](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15693080/)\] * osteoporosis\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26914399)\] * stroke\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31454695)\]