Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the production of growth factors and inflammatory mediators such as platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) play pivotal roles in CKD progression2, 3, 4, 5. Here, TNF is linked to chronic kidney disease.