IL6 and infection: Cells associated with the BBB, such as pericytes, astrocytes, and endothelial cells, are susceptible to infection with ZIKV and their infection with ZIKV leads to upregulation of ICAM-1 and a variety of cytokines (IL-6, CCL5, and CXCL-10) that causes enhanced binding and subsequently crossing of the BBB by the immune cells.