Several modes of leptin induction were demonstrated in adipocytes, including exposure to insulin, dexamethasone,40 angiotensin II,41 glucose, and hypoxia.42 TNF-α and interleukin-1β also were shown to induce leptin in cultured adipocytes and preadipocytes.43 Angiotensin II recently was shown to induce leptin in human coronary SMCs44 and in human aortic aneurysm wall–derived SMCs in our laboratory.45 To examine putative candidate mediators responsible for the local induction of leptin, we chose to assess the presence of TNF-α within both the plaque tissue and the systemic circulation. This evidence concerns the gene LEP and aortic aneurysm.