Because TGF β exerts immunomodulatory effects in the murine gonococcal infection model [24], these results suggest that TGF-β is either being produced in response to N. gonorrhoeae by other cell types in the genital tract or that it is produced constitutively in the antigen presenting cells, and other factors induced by N. gonorrhoeae exposure work in conjunction with TGF-β to suppress immune responses to this pathogen. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and bacterial sexually transmitted disease.