TNF and inflammatory response: Different mouse models revealed that inflammasome-deficiency-associated changes in the configuration of the gut microbiota are associated with exacerbated hepatic steatosis and inflammation through influx of TLR4 and TLR9 agonists into the portal circulation, leading to enhanced hepatic tumor-necrosis factor (TNF-α) expression that develop chronic hepatic inflammation, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) [8].