Although TNF plays a major role in growth regulation, cell differentiation, and response to microbial infections, its inappropriate overexpression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide spectrum of human disorders, such as autoimmunity (e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), allergy, septic shock, allograft rejection, and insulin resistance. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and inflammatory bowel disease.