IL6 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Furthermore, in rat astroglial cultures exposed to the cerebrospinal fluid from ALS patients, enhanced production and release of inflammatory cytokines IL6 (interleukin 6) and TNFα, as well as increased production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), have been observed.