The strongest associations with MA in this study were observed with the two soluble receptors of TNF-α (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) and moderate associations were observed with several other soluble receptors (sIL2Rα, sIL6R, and sgp130) and soluble adhesion molecules (sVCAM1 and sICAM1). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and microtia.