Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) is a cytokine that plays a key role in regulating inflammation in the body. There are many synonyms for TNF, including cachectin, lymphotoxin-alpha, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These synonyms are often used interchangeably in scientific literature, although some distinctions may exist in terms of cellular activity or signaling pathways. For example, lymphotoxin-alpha is produced by activated T-cells and plays a role in lymphoid tissue development, whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha is produced by macrophages and has a more generalized proinflammatory role. Ultimately, the various synonyms for TNF allow researchers to describe its complex functions and effects in a nuanced and precise manner.