Both CAEBV- and HLH-derived PBMCs triggered a cytokine storm in humanized mice consisting of elevated levels of IL-8, IFNγ and RANTES, with HLH-mice exhibiting greater levels of IL-8 and IFNγ than CAEBV-mice (Imadome et al., 2011). Here, IFNG is linked to hemophagocytic syndrome.