In order to analyse the physiological relevance of the 55 kDa tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and its role in various TNF related pathological conditions, such as septic shock, we have generated mice by gene targeting deficient for TNFR1 expression. The TNFR1-deficient mice are unable to cope with Listeria monocytogenes infections but mount an apparently normal immune response when challenged with Vaccinia or LCMV viruses. They are resistant to the lethal effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) after sensitization with D-galactosamine (D-GalN) but remain sensitive to very high doses of LPS given alone. We have analyzed functions relevant to inflammatory processes, such as adhesion, secondary factor release, and proliferation in fibroblasts derived from these mice. We show that the TNFR1 virtually monopolises TNF-mediated signaling in all these situations and that the 75 kDa TNFR2 seems to be largely restricted to an accessory role, which is compatible with the previously established" ligand passing" hypothesis.