Classically activated macrophages (M1), which have been proven to be dominant in RA joints, cause joint erosion, secreting principally proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-6, whereas alternatively activated macrophages (M2) contribute to tissue remodeling and repair via high production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (mainly IL-10 and TGF-β) (Cho et al., 2014; Tardito et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2020). Here, TNF is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.