In a study of 16 individuals with TBM in India, concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 were elevated in TBM vs. controls (10 non-neurological patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia due to obstructive uropathy), and declined during TB treatment, yet cytokine concentrations were not related to disease severity, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities or clinical outcome12. Here, IL6 is linked to tuberculosis.