Programmed necrosis or necroptosis has been identified as a form of regulated necrosis that can be induced by a variety of initiators, including death ligands (TNF, TRAIL and Fas),1, 2 interferons,3 Toll-like receptors (TLRs) ligands4, 5 and certain pathogen infections.6, 7, 8 Among these, TNF is the most extensively studied inducer for necroptosis. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is infection.