TNF and tuberculosis: In our study, pre-treatment analysis revealed that eight cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-18, and GM-CSF) were significantly elevated at baseline in cases compared to cured controls, both in unstimulated conditions and following TB antigen (CFP10, ESAT6, and TB7.7) stimulation.