Furthermore, uninfected macrophages respond to IL-26 with increased TNF-α secretion and increased expression of the chemokines CCL20, CXCL2 and CXCL8. Importantly, TNF-α is a key molecule in tuberculosis defence and an important therapeutical target in sarcoidosis released by monocytes after activation via TLR247. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL2 and sarcoidosis.