IL1B and infection: During a bone infection, the serum levels of several cytokines [e.g., IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-12(p70)], angiogenic factors (e.g., VEGF), and acute phase proteins (e.g., C reactive protein, CRP) increase, which is of diagnostic value in the clinical handling of the disease; nevertheless, specific infection markers with diagnostic value are still sought for (6, 7).