Exogenous addition of IL-24 to (PMBCs) from tuberculosis patients increased the expression of IL-12 family cytokines, including IL-12α, IL-12β, IL-23α and IL-27 leading to the increase of IFN-γ expression indicating that IL-24 plays a role in the immune response following infection with M. tuberculosis. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is tuberculosis.