IL6 and diabetic cardiomyopathy: In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy, the inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB 203580 (1 mg/kg of body weight daily, beginning at the onset of diabetes and continued for eight weeks), improved cardiac function, which is associated with reduced cardiac inflammation characterized by reduced myocardial tissue necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels [15].