TNF and ventilator-associated pneumonia: SOL-pretreated AMLCs infected with MRSA exhibited reduced bacterial burden (<i>n</i> = 8, *P < 0.05 vs control, **P < 0.01 vs CAM-pretreated AMLCs) and upregulated <i>Tnf-α</i> expression (<i>n</i> = 7-8, *P < 0.05 vs control).<h4>Conclusion</h4>SOL protects by activating alveolar macrophages and promoting TNF-related responses, suggesting a novel immunomodulatory role for SOL in host defense against exacerbation of MRSA-VAP by <i>P.