Surgical trauma, contact of blood with nonphysiological surfaces (e.g. pump tubing, oxygenator surfaces), myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, and hypothermia all combine to cause a dramatic release of cytokines (e.g. interleukin (IL-6 and IL-8) and other inflammatory mediators after on-pump cardiac surgery. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is myocardial ischemia.