TNF and cystic fibrosis: In one report, endobronchial infection with a mucoid P. aeruginosa strain was shown to elicit production of TNF-α, MIP-2, and KC/N51 inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and cause 80% mortality in CF mice (harboring the S489X mutation of the CFTR gene), thus phenocopying some of the CF hallmark pathologies observed in human [217].