This suppression is characterized by reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the enzyme responsible for nitric oxide (NO) production, together with diminished release of TNF-α, IL-6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby weakening the host immune defenses against Mtb and facilitating Mtb persistence during latent infection (Abekura et al., 2022). The gene discussed is NOS2; the disease is disease arising from reactivation of latent virus.