IL6 and Autoimmunity: IL-1 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that enhances the production of IL-2, encourages B cell proliferation, and increases immunoglobulin production50,54; whereas IL-4 is an anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokine that inhibits autoimmunity by downregulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α48,50,56.