TNF and infection: To then address the extent to which EAE, similar to infection and cancer, was altering the severity of the sepsis-induced cytokine storm, plasma was collected prior to and 12 h post–CLP surgery in D5, D15, and D25 (as well as non-EAE) mice and assessed for IL-6, TNF, IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-2, and IL-12p70 (Fig. 3A).