IL6 and colitis: In the present study, colonic epithelial cells and macrophages were found to produce inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TGF-β, in response to cytokine or antigenic stimulation, and this was also observed in the colon tissues of DSS-induced colitis, though proinflammatory TNF-α levels were much greater than anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels.