Upon mTNF cleavage by the TNF-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE) (34) or ADAM17 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17) (35), the soluble (sTNF) form of mTNF can be released with higher affinity for TNFR1 and indirectly balance TNFR2 signaling, as shown in the control of atherosclerosis. This evidence concerns the gene TNFRSF1B and atherosclerosis.