IL6 and Anxiety: Several studies have reported positive associations between high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (IL-8/CXCL-8) and TNF-α and/or a composite pro-inflammatory score with higher anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum.89,90 Notably, Sherer et al91 found a negative correlation, where lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were associated with higher anxiety.