To test the hypothesis that increased IL-6 levels in obesity directly contribute to an increased risk of VT/SCD and may represent a novel therapeutic target, adult guinea pigs were exposed to activators of IL-6 trans-signaling (recombinant IL-6-sIL-6R) through the cranial vena cava and right atrium (Figure 4A, as we previously [8] established), and then changes in QTc and susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias were monitored. Here, IL6 is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.