TNF and HIV infectious disease: Regarding the effect of HIV status on cytokine expression, being HIV positive was associated with significant increase in levels of TNF-α (β = 0.614, p = 0.001), IL-8 (β = 1.074, p = 0.006), IFN-γ (β = 0.441, p = 0.001), IL-17 (β = 0.301, p = 0.032), IL-12 (β = 0.539, p = 0.006), IL-6 (β = 0.688, p = 0.009) and IL-5 levels (β = 0.254, p = 0.012), all indicating significant stimulatory effects of HIV infection on these cytokines.