TNF and Hepatic fibrosis: Chronic ethanol consumption leads to the elevation of hepatic LPS levels that target CD14/TLR4 receptors, which are also elevated following ethanol consumption, leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-6 and transforming growth factor-β1, and the subsequent activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and liver fibrosis (12,13).