Following the observation that peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected individuals have impaired tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) production in vitro in response to iRBC challenge,11 we addressed the specific hypothesis that HIV-infection results in lower levels of systemic TNF and IL-10 in CM in vivo and that this is associated with a higher peripheral parasite density and a higher mortality. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and HIV infectious disease.