Another possible explanation for the altered lipid metabolism in untreated HIV infection could be the impact of TNF-α decreasing the activity of adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme whose role is to hydrolyze the triacylglycerol component of chylomicrons and VLDL into non-esterified fatty acids and monoacylglycerols [71]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and HIV infectious disease.