Interestingly, the expression of IL-6 strongly correlates with bacterial burden in humans45,46 and local production of IL-6 by urothelial cells was recently suggested.47 Importantly, application of the JAK-STAT inhibitor Ruxolitinib, which also inhibits IL-6 signaling, predisposed patients for acute bacterial infection in the urinary bladder,48 suggesting a critical role of IL-6-signaling for infection control. This evidence concerns the gene SOAT1 and infection.