A major inflammation signal—one of the first alarm molecules your immune system releases when it detects a threat.Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by activated macrophages. It signals through TNFR1 (ubiquitous) and TNFR2 (immune cells), activating NF-κB and MAPK pathways that amplify inflammation, induce apoptosis, and recruit immune cells. Chronically elevated TNF-α drives pathology in rheumatoid arthritis, IBD, and psoriasis. Several peptides studied on Peptidings (cortistatin, VIP, thymosin alpha-1) modulate TNF-α signaling as part of their anti-inflammatory mechanism.