TNF and Sepsis: In the early stage of sepsis, overactivated Toll-like receptor (TLR) activates intracellular transcription factors, such as NF-κB, and induces the generation and release of proinflammatory cytokines(e.g., interferon-α [IFN-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8], and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]), thus triggering a cytokine storm and leading to the first death peak of sepsis patients [37].