TNF and diabetic kidney disease: Fetuin-Ais a novel risk factor for endothelial dysfunction (17), and its levels correlate with changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-18, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), leptin, and resistin, all of which play are involved in the pathophysiology and inflammatory process of diabetic kidney disease (18).