A significant upregulation of both pro-inflammatory cytokines’ TNF-α and IL-6 (p < 0.0001, Tukey’s multiple comparisons test) was observed in the Kp56 infected (Kp56 + SM buffer) group compared to the control (SM buffer only) group, and at 24 h post infection, the increment in the TNF-α and IL-6 was 21.0-fold and 17.1-fold, respectively. Here, TNF is linked to infection.