In addition, LPS-stimulated IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 production by whole blood showed a trend to an increase compared to TB mice, indicating an enhanced capacity of immune cells to mount acute infection-like responses ex vivo. By contrast, LPS-stimulated PGE2 production was decreased significantly in the TB-SNC group, which might be explained by the absence of high PGE2 levels in plasma or by the inhibitory effect of the complete mixture in the ex vivo situation. Here, IL6 is linked to infection.