TNF and atrial fibrillation: Abnormal CAT accumulation stimulates the release of inflammatory cytokines [i.e. interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-11, TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), IL-16, IL-17, G-CSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)] that could lead to the progression of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries, myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, arrythmias, and other adverse cardiac events (13–16).