Interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-18 cooperate to control growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human macrophages

► We studied the mechanisms by which IL-12 and IL-27 regulate human macrophages. ► IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-18 cooperate to control growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ► IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-18 interact in a cytokine network. ► IL-12 and IL-27 influence the macrophage activation state by altering this network.