Creatinine downregulates TNF-α in macrophage and T cell lines.

•Creatinine exposure decreases TNF-α mRNA levels in a macrophage and T cell line.•TNF-α mRNA stability is not affected by exposure to creatinine.•Creatinine exposure decreases TNF-α staining intensity and secretion in a macrophage cell line.•Creatinine exposure reduces NF-κB levels in the nucleus.