TNF and endothelial dysfunction: Acute‐phase proteins, cytokines (including IL‐6, IL‐1, and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha [TNF‐α]), adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule [ICAM] and vascular cell adhesion molecule [VCAM]), and endothelial microparticles (EMPs) have been extensively investigated as indicators of endothelial dysfunction.5, 6, 7