TNF and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Population studies have shown a strong correlation between the level of pro-inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and perturbations in glucose homeostasis, obesity and atherosclerosis [8], suggesting the possibility of a common pathophysiologic link between autoimmunity and obesity.