TNF and hypertensive disorder: Patients with hypertension show either increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17, or increased production capacity, consistent with the existence of activated monocytes in the circulation and in line with the potential existence of a low-grade inflammatory state in prehypertensive patients [129,130].