Stools from children infected with Shigella (n = 53), all of whom had MSD (with or without dysentery), contained high levels of all of the proinflammatory cytokines measured: interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), TNF-β, interleukin 1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-12/23p40, IL-17A, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is dysentery.