AbstractTumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) contributes to myocardial infarction (MI) injury. Polymorphism of TNF‐α gene promoter region and secretion and release of TNF‐α and its transformation by a series of signaling pathways are all changed at different points of pathophysiological process in MI. Researches also investigated TNF‐α antagonists and their potential therapeutic role in the setting of MI and heart failure at both molecular and clinical level. This article briefly reviews TNF‐α and its mechanism as a mediator in MI.