Both IFN-α and TNF-α have both been shown to mature DCs (247, 248) which may have important consequences for the spread of HIV infection in trans by (1) enhancing DC-mediated viral transfer to CD4+ T cells at initial mucosal sites, (2) accelerating cellular transport of virus to other lymphoid compartments, and (3) increasing the half-life of virions bound and trafficking through DC (158). Here, TNF is linked to HIV infectious disease.