IL6 and congenital rubella syndrome: As shown in Fig. 3a–c, the expression levels of major inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β (p < 0.01) and IL-6 (p < 0.01) in serum; IL-1β (p < 0.05), IL-6 (p < 0.001) and TNF-α (p < 0.01) in the DLS; and IL-6 (p < 0.05) and TNF-α (p < 0.01) in the DMS of rats exposed to CRS, were significantly elevated.