TNF and acute kidney injury: Studies have also shown that treatment with ALA can decrease acute kidney injury by lowering serum blood urea nitrogen, creatinine levels, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), thereby decreasing endothelin-1 vasoconstriction, neutrophil diffusion, and inflammation in the kidneys.