IL6 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Common comorbidities, including obesity [41-43], diabetes [44], hypertension [45], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [46], and chronic kidney disease (CKD) [47], have been postulated to drive the systemic inflammatory state, as shown by elevated levels of circulating cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, CRP [48], and TNFα [49, 50].