TNF and infection: For a greater understanding of immunological responses during systemic candidiasis in Dectin-2-deficient mice, we analyzed the cytokine production capacity during the course of infection with C. albicans. Interestingly, on day 3 and 7 the production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1α, and IL-1β) by macrophages of Dectin-2−/− mice were significantly lower than in wild-type mice (Fig. 3A), which may represent an important cause of decreased resistance to the pathogen.