After 1⁄2 h reperfusion, cardiac IL-6 levels were already significantly elevated in the ischemic part of the heart as compared to the non-ischemic part in WT mice (5.6 ± 1.0 vs 1.7 ± 0.2 μg/mg; n = 6, respectively), indicating IL-6 to be a fast responder to cardiac ischemia (data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and myocardial ischemia.