TNF and atrial fibrillation: NP, AF cells, and immune cells, such as macrophages, T cells, and neutrophils, have been reported to release cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1 α/β, IL-6, IL-17, IL-8, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ, as well as neurogenic factors, which promote discogenic pain and reinforce disc cell pathogenic processes, including senescence and autophagy (15).