TNF and chronic kidney disease: Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, have been consistently implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic kidney disease, contributing to renal inflammation, fibrosis, and accelerated decline in glomerular filtration rate (Hubbard and Woodhouse, 2010; Jeffery et al., 2013; Shlipak et al., 2003).