TNF and lupus nephritis: Consistent with these results, renal mRNA expression levels of inflammatory interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) markers were lower in HGC-TAC-treated MRL/lpr mice than those observed in vehicle-treated lupus nephritis mice.