The VE serves as the first line of defense against the physical stimuli and chemical agonists that are present in the bloodstream during infection and disease by activating the inflammatory response when receptors on the ECs, such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs), recognize Pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β or TNF-α[13,14]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and infection.