TNF and acute respiratory distress syndrome: Alcohol consumption significantly upregulated the lung transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF β-1), a cytokine involved in the acute lung injury (ALI).3 Long-term alcohol consumption is associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels.