TWEAK Progress in Dermatology: A Review

Pramisha Kharel; Chen Jia; Kamal Raj Dhital; Pukar Chapagain; Sabita Aryal

doi:10.4103/ijd.ijd_885_22

TWEAK Progress in Dermatology: A Review

Indian J Dermatol. 2023 Jul-Aug;68(4):425-429. doi: 10.4103/ijd.ijd_885_22.

Authors

Pramisha Kharel¹, Chen Jia¹, Kamal Raj Dhital², Pukar Chapagain³, Sabita Aryal⁴

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Dermatology, Radiant Health Care, Kathmandu, Nepal.
³ Department of Dermatology, Lucent Skin and Hair Care, Kathmandu, Nepal.
⁴ Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the TNF superfamily (TNFSF). It acts through its receptor fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). Studies have indicated that TWEAK/Fn14 pathway activation controls multiple cellular responses, including proliferation, angiogenesis and induction of inflammatory cytokines. TWEAK/Fn14 is manifested in many tissues of our body and most importantly in the skin causing inflammation and many autoimmune and neoplastic cutaneous disorders. Evidence suggests that the TWEAK/Fn14 axis, the downstream signalling pathway and its inflammatory molecular expressions are involved in the pathogenesis of many cutaneous disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD) vitiligo and melanoma. So, this literature review describes a brief introduction of TWEAK and TWEAK/Fn14 pathway and summarises the case-series and open-label studies performed in the field of dermatology and its potential therapeutic benefit.

Keywords: Inflammation; TWEAK; TWEAK/Fn14.

Publication types

Review