The roles of TNF and FAS in the developing cerebellum

In vitro evaluation of TNF and Fas on the viability, outgrowth and biomolecular characteristics of cerebellar granule and Purkinje cells

As the nervous system develops, too many cells are generated and many die in the process that forms a correctly structured and functioning brain and spinal cord. We studied the potential for 2 molecules, TNF and Fas to be involved in this process in part of the brain termed the cerebellum. We found that Fas had no effect. However, TNF had differential and highly specific effects on different populations of cells in the cerebellum. It had no effect on one population, granule cells but did enhance the survival of developing cerebellar purkinje neurons suggesting that it may protect neurons destined to survive during development

Fas does not affect the viability of cerebellar granule or Purkinje neurons
TNF does not affect the viability of cerebellar granule neurons
TNF promotes the survival of immature cerebellar Purkinje neurons