TNF and heart failure: Activation of NF-κB leads to the accumulation and chemotaxis of inflammatory cells, releasing multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, etc. NF-κB activation is also a key component of the inflammatory response in cardiovascular diseases, so inhibition of the NF-κB pathway to improve endothelial inflammatory response may help alleviate heart function and thus heart failure.