TNF and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The up-regulation of IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in both mRNA as well as protein levels in response to ALS-CSF suggests that the inflammatory factors like Chit-1, osteopontin, and other chitinases up-regulated in ALS-CSF could enhance the synthesis and secretion of these cytokines, thus promoting a vicious inflammatory cycle.