TNF and infection: The nature of the changes that comprise potentiation remains unknown at this time; however, potentiation can be induced by several cytokines whose serum levels increase after infection (interleukin 10 [IL-10], monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), but not others (IL-1β, IL-4, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], and IL-17) that nonetheless promote endothelial activation (16).