TNF and cardiac hypertrophy: Infiltrated inflammatory cells including macrophages play an important role in cardiovascular remodeling.2 It has been reported that blockade of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1)/chemokine receptor 2 pathway prevents vascular inflammation and arteriosclerosis in a hypertensive rat model induced by chronic inhibition of NO synthesis.3 Cytokines derived from macrophages such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and MCP‐1 are involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy.4–5 Macrophages also contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis.