In response to influenza viral entry, epithelial and immune cells induce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5, which recruit macrophages and neutrophils to the site of infection to control the virus.5 This evidence concerns the gene TNF and influenza.