TNF and infectious otitis media: We confirmed the inflammatory state of the colonic tissue in AOM/DSS-treated mice as indicated by >2-13 fold increases of IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β mRNA expression (Figure 6E-G) and protein level of IL-6 (Figure 6H, ELISA), which was abrogated by MD2 blockade (Figure 6E-H).