Cytokines such as TNF‐α and TGF‐β1 have been shown to promote the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and promote fibrosis through NF‐κB activation in animal models of fibrosis, such as bleomycin‐induced pulmonary fibrosis [24] and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)‐induced renal fibrosis [25]. Here, TNF is linked to fibrosis.