TNF and infection: In vitro and animal studies have shown that statins reduce the release of TNF-α and IL-1b.35,37 In a murine model of cerebral malaria,37 treatment with lovastatin intravital examination of pial vessels of infected animals demonstrated a reverse of rolling and adhesion of leukocytes to inflamed endothelium and reduction of ICAM-1 and CD11b mRNA levels and a reduction of IL-1b, TNF-a, and IL-12 levels that were elevated in the brains of mice on post infection period.