TNF and angina pectoris: The correlation between elevated CRP levels and prognosis in coronary disease may be mediated by the vascular effects of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor TNF-α, interleukin IL-1 and IL-6, which induce the hepatic production of CRP.9 Mononuclear cells of patients with recurrent unstable angina show an enhanced production of IL-6 in response to low-dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), correlated with baseline CRP levels, six months after the last acute event: this persisting acute-phase responsiveness could explain the association between CRP and acute coronary events.10