title: Host defense against infections and inflammations: role of the multifunctional IL-6/IFN-beta 2 cytokine.
abstract: IL-6/IFN-beta 2 appears to be one of the important mediators of the response to viral and bacterial infections and to shock. The biological effects now associated with IL-6/IFN-beta 2 include: stimulation of immunoglobulin secretion by mature B lymphocytes (BSF-2 activity), growth stimulation of plasmacytomas and hybridomas (HGF activity), activation of T cells, stimulation of hepatic acute phase protein synthesis (HSF activity), stimulation of hematopoiesis, cell differentiation (DIF activity), inhibition of tumor cell growth (AP activity) and other IFN-like effects. As a typical cytokine, IL-6/IFN-beta 2 is secreted by many cell types and acts in various combinations with other interleukins and interferons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revel
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins