TNF and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Research found that the elevation of TNF-α, TGF-β, and IFN-γ levels in the supernatant of HHV 7-infected cells demonstrates the significant immune regulating effects of HHV 7 infection on the cytokine’s synthesis and inhabitation of lymphocyte proliferation via multiple stimulations.[39] Compared to normal esophageal tissues, the homing of CD3 + and CD4 + cells were detected increasing in biopsied ex-vivo cultures of GERD.