In the context of HSE, increased IL-6 is observed in the CSF, indicating a robust inflammatory response to the viral infection within the central nervous system (Aurelius et al., 1994) has been suggested to be linked with cognitive dysfunction (Campbell et al., 1993); high levels of IL-6 are a sign that the body is reacting to the HSV that causes encephalitis. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is viral encephalitis.