TNF and infection: The sterile inflammation caused by MI recruits neutrophils and macrophages to MI-affected tissue to release high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which have the function to clear necrotic cells and extracellular matrix debris, similar to the inflammatory response seen in infections [9, 10].