TNF and amebiasis: Amebiasis is characterized by acute inflammation of the intestine with the release of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin β (IL-1β), and the generation of micromolar concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) from activated cells of the host’s immune system (for a recent review see ref. 4).