TNF and atherosclerosis: In this study and our previous report with less amount of diabetic animal models [18], a great elevation of mRNA levels of cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and a dramatic increase of TNF-α secretion in the aortic wall of diabetic porcine, as comparing to the non-diabetic animals, may be caused by activation of inflammation-related pathways and regulators in vessel wall driven by hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycated end products, further supporting the concept that diabetes mellitus is an independent and potent risk factor for atherosclerosis [6,36].