Consistent with an increased SIRS independent of bacterial killing but related to an over activation of NF-κB, APO-treated mice under antibiotic therapy had aggravated neutrophil trapping in the lungs, and increased plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-6 (Fig. 6D–F), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (i.e. markers of renal dysfunction and liver injury, respectively- Supplementary Fig. 9A,B). Here, TNF is linked to systemic inflammatory response syndrome.