IL6 and coronary atherosclerosis: Although an elevated serum level of IL-6 has been reported to be associated with poor outcomes of stroke and severe coronary atherosclerosis [37], [38], in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated neuroprotective roles of IL-6 in brain diseases [39], [40], [41], suggesting that pleiotropic IL-6 plays multiple roles in both inflammatory and neuroprotective phases of cerebral ischemia.