TNF and autoimmune disease: For instance, patients taking immunosuppressive treatment like TNF-α inhibitors for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (i.e., immunosuppressed due to medical intervention) (111) and those with autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (i.e., immunocompromised due to co-morbidities), are at an increased risk of TB resulting from a diminished immune response (112).