Caspase-3, caspase-8, or pan-caspase inhibition did not alter secretion of IFN-α2, IFN-γ, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70 or IL-23, as elevated levels of these cytokines were detected in all infection conditions (Fig. 4, Additional file 1: Fig. S9). Here, IL6 is linked to infection.