Description
TWEAK R (TNFRSF12A/FN14) belongs to the TNF family of transmembrane proteins. The receptor contains a binding site for members of the TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) family that promotes the activation of NF-κB. It is expressed in many tissues such as heart, placenta, kidney, pancreas, skeletal muscle and lung and is regulated by a number of different growth factors (1). TWEAK R plays a role in TWEAK-induced endothelial cell migration, proliferation and angiogenesis (2). TWEAK-induced cell death via TWEAK R includes both apoptosis and necrosis and can be blocked by an anti-TWEAK antibody, CARL-1. TWEAK R is expressed on HUVEC and in some cancer tissues but not on freshly isolated PBMCs (3). Recent studies have suggested some therapeutic potential of TWEAK and its receptor signaling in regards to autoimmunity and cancer treatment (4)