title: Interleukin 6: presence and future.
abstract: This review article deals with the basic biological characteristics of the multifunctional cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in man. Three central issues will be addressed more closely: the pathophysiological role of unbalanced IL-6 production in various disease states, the diagnostic usefulness of measurements of IL-6 in biological fluids, and the possible role of IL-6, IL-6 antagonists, and IL-6 derivatives as therapeutic tools in clinical medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brach
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D004194:Disease; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors