TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: It has been demonstrated that MPs in RA patients express TNF-α on their surface (69), Barbati et al., showed that MPs can induce the activation of asparaginase 3 and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and TNF receptor, three independent signals that promote endothelial cell apoptosis, which can lead to the formation of atherosclerosis (62, 70).