TNF not only acts as a macrophage-derived effector molecule, but in an autocrine fashion also controls macrophage activation and survival, as seen for example during infection with mycobacteria.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 However, the molecular mechanisms of TNF-induced cell death in macrophages are incompletely understood and were, therefore addressed in our study. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and infection.