Mesangial cells are an important source of these inflammatory mediators during the early stage of lupus nephritis, but as disease progresses, infiltrating lymphocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, and proximal renal tubular epithelial cells are activated by IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-α, and HA, which further drive the inflammatory processes in the kidney and highlight their prominent roles in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is lupus nephritis.