TNF and atherosclerosis: Resistin is a pro-inflammatory protein synthesized in humans mainly by macrophages; the production of this protein is associated with the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) [3], as well as with pathophysiological conditions such as atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease [4].