TcpC-secreting wild-type CFT073 (CFT073wt) or recombinant TcpC (rTcpC) treatment inhibits LPS + IFN-γ-induced CD80, CD86, TNF-α and iNOS expression, but promotes IL-4-induced CD163, CD206, Arg-1 and IL-10 expression in CFT073wt-infected pyelonephritis model mouse and both human and mouse macrophage cell lines THP-1 and J774A.1, respectively. Here, TNF is linked to pyelonephritis.