TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: The data are mixed as to the differential regulation of cytokines by adiponectin: On the one hand, adiponectin is capable of suppressing levels of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) that are typically elevated in RA and adiponectin increases levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in primary human macrophages activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) [25].