TNF and tuberculosis: While TNFα deficiency has been linked to differential susceptibility to infections, resulting in complete lack of B cell follicles or causing tuberculosis, prolonged high concentrations of TNFα can result in severe tissue damage, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, type II diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, septic shock and cancer [52].