The implication of the IL-17 pathway in an acute pneumonic plague mouse model was first shown in 2007, when elevated production of IL-17A and its promoting cytokines, such as transforming growth factors beta (TGF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-1β, were observed in inflamed lungs [37]. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is plague.