TNF and Other metabolic disease: Recent experimental data indicate a role for centrally mediated signaling by inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in neurogenic hypertension or metabolic disease.23–25 Neutralization of IL-1β reversed weight loss in mice fed a Paigen diet, and the decline in voluntary physical activity in ApoE−/− mice was also reversed by genetic deletion of the IL-1 receptor.