IL6 and HIV infectious disease: IL-6 levels in HBV were elevated possibly due to suppressed antigen processing by Kupffer cells as reported earlier.20 Levels of IL-6 in HCV infected individuals have been reported to increase in chronic cases, prior to IFN-Gamma therapy and in non-responders to therapy.21 Serum and plasma levels of IL-6 also rise in HIV infection because of its primary role in the increased differentiation of polyclonal beta cells.22