SPP1 and infection: Since cytokines play an important role in host defense against B. pseudomallei[2] and OPN is known to act as a proinflammatory mediator able to induce cytokines including IFN-γ and IL-12 [24], [25], we measured proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12p70, TNF-α, IL-6), an anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and chemokines (KC, MIP-2, LIX and MCP-1) in lung homogenates obtained 24 and 72 h after infection.