Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a central mediator of immune and inflammatory responses. Its activities have been shown to be mediated by two distinct receptors, TNFR1 (p55) and TNFR2 (p75). The cytoplasmic domains of both TNF receptors are unrelated, suggesting that they link to different intracellular signaling pathways. To determine their role in vivo in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-and TNF-induced skin inflammatory necrosis, TNFR1-, TNFR2-, and TNF lymphotoxin-alpha (LT alpha)-deficient mice were used. Skin abscesses were experimentally induced with local application of TNF or LPS. Large macroscopic ulcerations were observed in TNF-injected wild-type animals and to a slightly lesser extent in TNFR2-deficient mice with tissue destruction in both cases extending deep into the dermis. Tissue destruction was accompanied by an intense immune infiltrate composed mainly of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages. TNFR1-deficient and TNFR1/TNFR2-double-deficient mice, however, did not exhibit any ulceration and showed only a very mild inflammatory infiltrate. In TNF/LT alpha-double ligand0-deficient animals, a moderate epidermal necrosis was observed with a reduced inflammatory infiltrate compared to wild-type animals. As with TNF injections, subcutaneous injection of LPS induced a comparable pattern of skin necrosis in wild-type and TNF receptor mutant mice, yet a slightly more acute inflammatory level was observed regardless of the type of animal tested. As found for TNF-induced skin necrosis, the extent of LPS-induced skin necrosis was reduced in TNF/LT alpha-deficient mice compared to wild-type animals. The present data strongly suggest that TNFR1, rather than TNFR2, is engaged in LPS-and TNF-induced skin necrosis and highlight the predominant role played by TNF in LPS-induced inflammatory diseases.