TNF and Cirrhosis: Considering these observations, the expanded CD14+HLA-DR+AXL+ monocyte population in the circulation of patients with cirrhosis (notably, not existing in healthy subjects) remained functionally phagocytic, but prevented T cell proliferation and inflammation (low TNF-α/IL-6 production) in a presumably SOCS1/3-dependent manner, representing an immune-regulatory “homeostatic” monocyte population expanding during cirrhosis progression.