IL6 and Salmonella Infections: Furthermore, this strain reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) levels and modulates activation of MAPK (p38 and JNK, but not ERK1/2), NF-κB and activator protein-1, signaling pathways which are involved in transcriptional activation of pro-inflammatory mediator during Salmonella infection (111).