In all CHF patients, higher TNF, IL-10, SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression was associated with severity of heart failure according to MR-proANP (r = 0.4, p < 0.03, r = 0.39, p < 0.03, r = 0.45, p < 0.03 and r = 0.45, p < 0.02, respectively). Here, TNF is linked to heart failure.