In response to an infection, specialized T cells change their function and provide biomolecular triggers to the immune system by initiating a pro-inflammatory cascade, i.e., excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is infection.