Biological and clinical aspects of interleukin 6.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a multi-functional cytokine that is produced by a range of cells and plays a central role in host defense mechanisms. Abnormal production of IL-6 has been suggested to be involved in glomerulonephritis, plasmacytomagenesis and in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this review, Toshio Hirano and colleagues discuss the possible involvement of IL-6 in a variety of diseases, the regulatory mechanism(s) of expression of the IL-6 gene and the structure and function of the IL-6 receptor.
Hirano
T
T
Division of Immunology, Osaka University, Japan.
Akira
S
S
Taga
T
T
Kishimoto
T
T
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000209:etiology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6
D015850:Interleukin-6; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6