TNF and cutaneous mastocytosis: Among some patients who develop CM, various blood pro-inflammatory cytokines have been reported to increase including interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (Kwiatkowski et al., 1990; Ringwald et al., 1991; Brown et al., 1999; Wenisch et al., 1999; Akanmori et al., 2000; Lyke et al., 2004).