IL6 and neoplasm: Previous studies suggest that the immune activation in NF2-SWN cochleae may be driven by release of inflammatory mediators by activated tumor-associated macrophages, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6), and reactive oxygen species, which may exacerbate neuronal damage (20, 25, 26, 48, 52, 53).