TNF and obstructive jaundice: Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), play important roles in the pathological damage caused by obstructive jaundice (OJ) and are the principal molecules involved in the high incidence of perioperative complications and high mortality rates associated with cholestatic liver disease [3–5].