Messenger RNA expression levels of TLR-2, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, IL-12p40, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, anti-inflammatory/regulatory cytokines TGF-β1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 as well as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 endothelial adhesion molecules were determined at 4 and 24 hours post-infection (hpi) in maternal caruncular (BCEC-1) and foetal trophoblast (F3) cell cultures and protein secretion was assessed in culture supernatants by ELISA. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is infection.