IFNG and pulmonary tuberculosis: SOCS1 is regarded as an important mediator that inhibits IFN-γ secretion by macrophages, which in turn hampers the early clearance of Mtb by macrophages62. Consistent with the results of other studies, our study found higher levels of IL-6 in TPE subjects, which suggested that IL-6, as an important cytokine, may be involved in the formation of TPE and play an important role in the occurrence and development of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).