IL6 and infection: Before experimental infection with L. monocytogenes (60 d of age), the relative expression levels of IL-8 (Figure 5a) and IL-6 (Figure 5b) genes were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with increasing the levels of dietary MSP, while TNF-α (Figure 5c) and IL-1β (Figure 5d) expression levels were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in rabbits fed MSP at levels of 1 × 107 and 1 × 108 CFU/kg unlike the control group.