TNF and chronic kidney disease: In the renal tissues of CKD mice, the down-regulation of E-cadherin, up-regulation of α-SMA and COL1A1 (Figure 4D), and the up-regulation in the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) (Figure 4E) were observed, and these changes were significantly suppressed by the administration of AST-120 or rapamycin.