TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: TNF-α has previously been shown to activate the NF-κB transcription factor in neutrophils via the rapid degradation of IκB-α [51], [52] We have previously observed that NF-κB is activated in peripheral blood neutrophils from patients with RA [14], a disease that is characterised by increased levels of TNF-α and decreased levels of neutrophil apoptosis.