ABSTRACT
Among the inflammatory mediators are pro-inflammatory cytokines that help to induce and maintain an inflammatory response. The main proinflammatory cytokines are interleukin-1b (IL-1b), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and IL-6. In addition to inducing tissue inflammation, these cytokines also induce fever. Fever is generally beneficial to host defense; most pathogens grow better at lower temperatures, and adaptive immune responses are more intense at elevated temperatures. IL-1 and IL-6 also enhance the production of innate immunity proteins called the acute-phase reactants, which are synthesized by the liver and released into the blood.
