The results from our human biopsy samples demonstrated a progressive increase in TNFα and TNFR1 expression as well as increased recruitment of CD45+ inflammatory cells from non-progressing OPMD samples to progressing OPMD samples, highlighting the crucial role of TNFα in the development of a pro-invasive environment. The gene discussed is TNFRSF1A; the disease is oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.