As a multi-functional pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in atherosclerosis, the role of TNF-α in generating multiple chemokines like IL-6, hs-CRP and IFN-γ as acute phase response, as well as endothelial adhesion molecules such as VCAM-1 for smooth muscle proliferation, after activation through NF-κB pathway has been established by several studies9,31,32. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is atherosclerosis.