Last reviewed: May 12, 2026 Last updated: May 12, 2026

Written by: Jay Hastings , CEO of PlexusDx

Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance. His work has included scaling healthcare startups, leading CLIA lab integrations, and helping expand consumer access to precision health tools.

Medically reviewed by: Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA

Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.

This article is part of the PlexusDx Education Hub — your resource for evidence-based guidance on blood testing & biomarkers. Browse all Blood Testing & Biomarkers education

Chronic inflammation sits beneath many long-term health concerns, and your genes help set your baseline inflammatory tone. This article explains what chronic inflammation is, the genes researchers connect to it — including TNF, IL6, CRP, and NFKB1 — and lifestyle levers that influence inflammatory pathways. It is educational, not medical advice.

Understanding Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is the immune system's normal response to injury and infection. Acute inflammation is short-lived and protective — the redness and swelling around a cut, for instance. Chronic inflammation is different: a low-grade, persistent activation of the immune system that continues long after any immediate threat is gone. Over time, that sustained signaling is what researchers associate with wear on tissues and systems.

Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation

The distinction matters. Acute inflammation resolves once healing is complete. Chronic inflammation lingers, often at a level too subtle to feel directly but detectable through biomarkers. It can be driven by ongoing factors — diet, chronic stress, poor sleep, visceral fat, or persistent low-level immune activation — and by how your individual biology is tuned to respond.

The Genetics of Inflammation

Your inflammatory set point is partly inherited. Several genes are studied repeatedly in this context:

TNF encodes tumor necrosis factor, a signaling protein that helps launch and amplify the inflammatory response. Variants in the TNF gene region have been associated in research with differences in how strongly inflammatory signaling is expressed.

IL6 codes for interleukin-6, a messenger that helps coordinate the immune response and drives production of downstream markers. NFKB1 encodes part of NF-κB, a master regulator that switches many inflammatory genes on and off. Together, TNF, IL6, and NFKB1 sit at the center of the pathways that determine your baseline inflammatory tone.

CRP: The Inflammation Biomarker

CRP, C-reactive protein, is produced by the liver in response to interleukin-6 signaling and is one of the most widely used blood markers of inflammation. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) is measured in blood testing to gauge low-grade systemic inflammation. Genetic variation can influence baseline CRP levels, which is why interpreting the number in context — with a provider — matters more than the number alone.

Lifestyle Levers That Influence Inflammatory Pathways

Genotype is not destiny. Gene expression responds to how you live. Broadly, research associates lower chronic inflammation with regular physical activity, adequate sleep, a diet rich in whole foods and healthy fats, stress management, and maintaining a healthy body composition. These are general, non-prescriptive levers — how they apply to you is a conversation to have with a qualified healthcare provider, not a self-directed protocol.

Where Genetic Insight Fits

Knowing your baseline tendencies helps you and your provider interpret biomarkers and lifestyle choices with more precision. The PlexusDx Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyzes 14 pathways, 49 peptides, 150+ genetic insights across peptide-related biological pathways, and PlexusDx blood biomarker panels can measure markers such as hs-CRP over time. The test provides education about your biology — it does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any inflammatory disease.

Ready to understand your biology at the pathway level? The Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyzes how your genes shape peptide-related pathways, giving you and your provider a clearer starting point — test before you invest. Genetics as a guide, not a guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chronic Inflammation

What causes chronic inflammation?

Chronic inflammation results from a mix of factors: ongoing immune activation, diet, chronic stress, poor sleep, and excess visceral fat, layered on top of inherited tendencies in genes like TNF, IL6, and NFKB1. It is low-grade and persistent, often detectable through biomarkers such as CRP before you notice symptoms.

Which genes influence inflammation?

Several genes shape your inflammatory baseline. TNF and IL6 encode signaling proteins that drive the inflammatory response, NFKB1 encodes a master regulator that switches inflammatory genes on and off, and CRP reflects downstream interleukin-6 activity. Variation in these genes helps explain why inflammatory tone differs from person to person.

Can I change my inflammation levels?

You cannot change your genotype, but gene expression and inflammatory markers respond to how you live. Research links lower chronic inflammation with regular activity, quality sleep, a whole-food diet, stress management, and healthy body composition. Discuss specific, personalized steps with a qualified healthcare provider rather than following a generic protocol.

Does the Precision Peptide Genetic Test diagnose inflammation?

No. The Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyzes how your genes influence peptide-related biological pathways for wellness education — it does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any inflammatory condition. To assess active inflammation, a provider uses blood markers like hs-CRP interpreted alongside your history and symptoms.

Disclaimer: The Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyzes how your genes influence peptide-related biological pathways. It does not recommend, prescribe, or determine which peptides you should use, and it does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any peptide protocol.

Medical and Editorial Standards

Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.

Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance. References are included at the end of the article when scientific, medical, or health-related claims are discussed.

Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.

This article is part of the PlexusDx Education Hub. Browse all Blood Testing & Biomarkers education