TRAF1 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Recent results, however, have questioned a mere pro-inflammatory role of TRAF1 in cardiovascular pathologies: In diet-induced obesity (DIO), TRAF1-deficient mice were protected from diet-induced weight gain and associated metabolic derangements by an increased breakdown of lipids in adipocytes and UCP1-enabled thermogenesis (59).