Numerous proinflammatory molecules in AT are involved in obesity-related metabolic disease, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) and various adipokines (reviewed in [53], and discussed below in ‘Endocrine functions within adipose tissue’). Here, TNF is linked to obesity disorder.