TNF and infection: Proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-8, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, injure cardiac myocytes and the vascular endothelium in both phases (infection with the virus and extreme inflammation), ending in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other end-organ injury [2].