IL6 and escherichia coli infection: In a mouse model for S. aureus and E. coli infections, animals with E. coli infection showed significantly greater serum levels of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α than S. aureus-infected mice [17].