The mechanisms activating the macrophage to engulf erythrocytes are not fully described, but there is some evidence suggesting that pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by the immune response to the ongoing infections, such as IFNG and TNF, stimulate macrophages to phagocytize erythrocytes, which in turn causes the development of anemia and other hematologic disorders [110,111]. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is anemia.