The results showed that the ability of MS_Rv2650c to stimulate the secretion of cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 was lower than that of MS_Vec after 24 h of infection (paired t-test; P = 0.000006, P = 0.004, P = 0.01, P = 0.00002, respectively). Here, IL6 is linked to infection.