TNF and fatty liver disease: Many studies have shown that inflammation is tightly associated with hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, simultaneously, PA can reduce hepatic inflammatory reaction35 and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines are thought to play an important role in this process.36 The mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 were significantly lower after Nifu treatment in PA-induced HepG2 cells.