Upregulation of inflammatory mediators including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with TBM have been described [10–13], when compared to symptomatic controls. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is meningeal tuberculosis.