IL6 and infection: Importantly, the secreted levels of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF, KC, and IL‐6 (Figs 1E and EV1E), the gene expression of pro‐IL‐1β, pro‐IL‐18, TNF, KC, and IL‐6 (Fig EV1F), and the phosphorylation status of IκB and ERK between WT and Casp11−/− BMDMs following infection with M. catarrhalis were similar (Fig EV1B).