TNF and oral submucous fibrosis: Clinical studies have reported that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), beta fibroblast growth factor-beta (bFGF), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) alpha-smooth muscle alpha-actin (α-SMA), serum c-reactive protein, ROS levels, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were abnormally expressed in the oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) group; the frequency of HLA-A10, HLA-B7 and HLA-DR3 dominance was increased in OSMF patients.