TNF and tuberculosis: Our results indicate that proportions of TNF-α- and IFN-γ-producing cells within both the CD4+ and CD8+ subsets were significantly reduced in TB patients with cavities compared with those with radiological infiltrates after stimulation of ESAT-6 or CFP-10, respectively, although the activities of IFN-γ and TNF-α were broad and included both beneficial and detrimental effects [15].