title: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and its receptor: their role in plasma cell neoplasias.
abstract: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine regulating immune response acute phase reaction and hematopoiesis. IL-6 plays a critical role in B cell differentiation to plasma cells and is a potent growth factor for plasmacytoma and myeloma. Abnormal production of IL-6 has been suggested to be involved in polyclonal plasma cell abnormalities and plasma cell neoplasias. The deregulated expression of the IL-6 gene in transgenic mice resulted in the generation of malignant plasmacytoma. Based on these findings, it could be considered that continuous IL-6 gene expression plays an essential role in a multistep oncogenesis of plasma cell neoplasias. The role of IL-6 and its receptor in the generation of plasma cell neoplasias and the mechanisms of the IL-6 gene expression and IL-6 receptor-mediated signal transduction are described.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Oncology, Biomedical Research Center, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000209:etiology*; D010950:Plasma Cells; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000209:etiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6