Early-response interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α cytokines are believed to be influential in the progression of HIE in the neonatal brain by promoting the synthesis of other cytokines, adhesion molecules and chemokines such as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)8 and CXCL10. Here, TNF is linked to perinatal asphyxia.