TNF and type 2 diabetes mellitus: We previously demonstrated that the TNF-TNFR2 pathway is involved in the development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy in the type 2 diabetic model of KK-Ay mice, and TNF inhibition with a soluble TNFR2 fusion protein (etanercept) improves albuminuria and renal tissue injury through its anti-inflammatory effect9.