Tumor necrosis factor-α induces aortic intima-media thickening via perivascular adipose tissue inflammation.

Background/aims: Neointimal thickening results from inflammation in association with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. We studied the role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) on VSMC proliferation and intima-media thickening (IMT) in a rodent model of chronic inflammation.

Methods: The abdominal aorta and surrounding PVAT of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-injected mice were examined 28 days after administration.

Role of tumor necrosis factor-α in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrosis and development of an arrhythmogenic substrate.

Background: Although tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels are increased in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), its role in the pathogenesis of AF is unclear. We investigated whether direct delivery of TNF-α could induce atrial fibrosis.

Methods And Results: TNF-α (4 μg/kg) was injected into the tail vein of 20 male Swiss albino mice (TNF group) and saline into 20 control mice (CON group).