TNF and infection: Present in immune and intestinal epithelial cells, these transcription factors are essential for host homeostasis, immune tolerance, infection control, and tissue repair by inducing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, nitric oxide synthase inducible (iNOS), cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2), and TNF-α.