TNF and Insulin resistance: The main results of one week of administration of glucocorticoids were: (1) Metabolic dysfunction described by augmentation of fasting glycaemia, TC, LDL-c and reduction in HDL-c plus insulin resistance (2) Impairment of insulin-mediated vasodilation; (3) Involvement of PI3K/Akt/eNOS vasodilatory pathway in augmentation of ET-1-induced vasoconstriction; (4) Reduced endothelial NO bioavailability and increased O2•- and (5) Increased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-18.