In this context, proapoptotic effects of hemozoin, TNF and interferon-γ on erythroid precursors have been described in vitro (Dai and Krantz, 1999; Lamikanra et al., 2009; Vittori et al., 2010) and high levels of apoptotic erythroid cells were observed in bone marrow aspirates of severe malaria patients presenting erythroid hypoplasia and low percentage of peripheral reticulocytes (Anantrakulsil et al., 2005). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is malaria.