Figure 5. Comparison of sepsis-induced versus exercise-induced increases in circulating cytokines.

During sepsis, there is a marked and rapid increase in circulating TNF-α, which is followed by an increase in IL-6. In contrast during exercise the marked increase in IL-6 is not preceded by elevated TNF-α. From Pedersen & Febbraio (2008) with permission from the American Physiological Society.