IL6 and rheumatoid arthritis: Although, IC have been reported to favor differentiation toward an alternative activation of macrophages (M2b) (54), Vogelpoel et al. reported a synergistic upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in macrophages derived from patients with RA and HC by IC exhibiting TLR ligands (55).