IL6 and infection: However, instead of the site of inoculation being immunologically “silent” immediately after infection the presence of Ft in the lung elicits recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages and establishes an anti-inflammatory milieu in which bacteria replicate unencumbered by potent antimicrobial innate immune responses (i.e., production of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p70, and IFN-γ).