Although low concentrations of TNFα were detected in IBS patients and HV with the Luminex assay, no differences were seen when comparing IBS and HV or between IBS patient subgroups; IL-6 and IL-10 were largely undetectable, and no differences were observed between groups (data not shown), suggesting that serum cytokines are less sensitive to detect immune activation in IBS. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is irritable bowel syndrome.