TNF and chlamydia infectious disease: Because IFN-γ, TNFα, and IL-1β are all differentially expressed in the context of TLR3 deficiency in murine OE cells and mice [8, 27], we hypothesized that TLR3 deficiency might have a significant impact on the integrity of the epithelial barrier within the female reproductive tract during Chlamydia infection, due to the altered expression of these and other key cytokines.