TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that appears to play a pivotal role in the inflammatory host response in NCC.8,9 We hypothesized that inhibition of TNF-α with etanercept (ETN), an anti–TNF-α biological agent that is routinely used in the treatment of RA, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis, might be useful in the control of inflammation in NCC.