IL6 and cytomegalovirus infection: hCMV infection of EC can induce the expression of various interleukins (IL-) [11], the most well studied of which is IL-6, which signals through the gp130 receptor in combination with the IL-6R subunit, to induce signalling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-cascade and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak/STAT) pathway [6].