Under these conditions, inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α), inflammatory marker protein (serum amyloid A (SAA)), macrophage markers (F4/80 and CD11c) and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 mRNA expression levels were greater in mice fed the 0.1% and 0.2% methionine in HFCD diets than in those fed the control and HF diets, and these changes were attenuated by increasing the methionine content. This evidence concerns the gene ITGAX and hydrops fetalis.