TNF and ulcerative colitis: Active disease can be associated with a rise in acute phase reactants like C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and decrease in hemoglobin (Hb).[3] Cytokines play an important regulatory role in ulcerative colitis; there is an increased production of most of the major proinflammatory cytokines [Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8 (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8)] and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).[4, 5] These serum parameters may be useful as markers of disease activity.