To define the impact of HCMV infection on microglia, we have characterized HCMV infection in a human C20 microglia cell line that maintains microglial morphology, presents multiple cell surface microglial markers and expresses proinflammatory cytokines following stimulation with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) [21]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and cytomegalovirus infection.