Predicting cytokine kinetics during sepsis; a modelling framework from a porcine sepsis model with live Escherichia coli

•An in silico model that simultaneously characterises the in vivo time courses of E. coli, the endotoxin release, and the kinetics of TNF, and IL-6 was developed.•Endotoxin acted as the main driver of TNF, and IL-6 changes.•The model could well predict cytokine profiles at different exposure scenarios, as evaluated using external data.•At the same total bacterial burden, different TNF, and IL-6 profiles are predicted depending on the bacterial exposure rate.