Coherently, NLRX1 KO mice had fewer tumors in an azoxymethane induced colorectal cancer model probably due to a lower rate of intrinsic apoptosis, however, there was increased pathology in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)/azoxymethane colitis model in which accumulation of inflammatory mediators such as TNFα trigger excessive extrinsic apoptosis (Soares et al., 2014). This evidence concerns the gene NLRX1 and colitis.