Clinical or experimentally induced, active inflammation up-regulates the in vivo capacity of urea synthesis (CUNS), which promotes nitrogen removal from the body and metabolic catabolism. We have shown that tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) up-regulates CUNS and increases interleukin 6 expression (IL-6) within hours of administration. The described effect of TNF-a on nitrogen homeostasis may, therefore, depend on IL-6.