Furthermore, the J774A.1 shRNA-EZR MΦs challenged with LPS were more pro-inflammatory, as evident by increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α (Fig. 2B) than J774A.1 shRNA-CTR, and had reduced HO-1 (anti-inflammatory) protein levels (Fig. 2C), which recapitulates what we previously observed in CF-affected MΦs11. Here, TNF is linked to cystic fibrosis.