TNF and adenocarcinoma: On the 178th day, Muc2−/− mice developed colorectal chronic colitis, hyperplasia, adenomas and adenocarcinomas, and inflammatory cytokines (e.g., cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1 β (IL-1β), i-kappa-B-kinase β (IKKβ)) were significantly increased in colonic epithelial cells of Muc2−/− mice.