Whilst the specific systemic signals that might confer increased blood monocyte IL-1β potential are not yet known, it has recently been suggested that NK cell production of IFN-γ can influence monocyte progenitors in the bone marrow to adopt a regulatory phenotype during acute gastrointestinal infection, a process that precedes the onset of systemic inflammation (41). This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and digestive system infectious disorder.