We also correlated plasma levels of adiponectin with plasma concentrations of selected pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p40, IL-13, IL-17, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1β, TNF-α) involved in the pathogenesis of RA to assess which mediators may influence adiponectin expression. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.