TNF and acute kidney injury: The resulting cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6, mediate renal injury directly or through the action of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, caspases and nitric oxide (NO) [2,6] that causes renal vasoconstriction with sodium and water retention, which is the predominant pathogenic factor in early sepsis-related ARF [3].