title: Interleukin-6 and its receptor during homeostasis, inflammation, and tumor growth.
abstract: This review focuses on describing the specific role of interleukin-6 within the network of inflammatory mediators in man. Sites of interleukin-6 synthesis, regulation of its expression, and the biological functions of this molecule are here outlined. The potential role of interleukin-6 as a diagnostic monitor is discussed. Particular attention is paid to experimental evidence that interleukin-6 and its receptor may be involved in the pathogenesis of autocrine tumor growth. A recently proposed therapeutical use of cytotoxic interleukin-6 fusion proteins in order to selectively, destroy certain interleukin-6 receptor bearing tumor cells is discussed in the light of the finding, that not only hepatocytes, but also normal peripheral blood monocytes express the interleukin-6 receptor.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Universität Freiburg im Breisgau.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6