Analysis of the concentrations of markers between the two study groups detected reduced levels of several cytokines, namely IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, bFGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, TNF-α and VEGF, in the patients with achalasia compared with those in the control group (all P<0.001; Table II). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is Achalasia.