As for TGF-β levels, while not significant, our data suggests that TGF-β is higher among podoconiosis patients than controls which opposes the previous finding measuring reduced TGF-β among other oxidative stress markers [14] whereas increased levels of TGF-β and TNF-α, have been seen in silica exposure induced autoimmunity in a mice model [31]. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is podoconiosis.