IL6 and viral infectious disease: Consistent with reports that neutrophils (38, 39) and CD11b+ Ly6C+ Ly6G+ cells (40) are important during early defense against bacterial and viral infections via production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1b (IL-1b), IL-6, TNF, and IFN-I, we found a significant increase of TNF+ CD11b+ Ly6C+ Ly6G+ cells (Fig. 1F).