IL6 and infection: S. aureus molecules such as peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) are potential stimulators of cytokine production (e.g. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, IL-8, IFN-γ and IL-12), in response to infection [7] but un-regulated cytokine production may contribute to S. aureus pathogenesis.