IL6 and chronic kidney disease: Elevated circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL1β are found in CKD and can activate key-enzymes involved in radical oxygen species (ROS) production, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, xanthine oxidase and inducible NO synthase.